Draft 30-Year Transport Strategy released

Northlanders are being asked for their views on a long-term vision outlining the way the region’s transport infrastructure should be developed over the next 30 years.


Northland Regional Councillor John Bain says the draft ’30-Year Transport Strategy’ is an in-depth look at where Northland’s transport is now, where the region wants to be in 30 years and how it intends to get there.


Councillor Bain, who chairs the Council’s Regional Transport Committee, says legally, Northland must now produce a strategy with a broad 30-year outlook every six years.


The new draft strategy is the first of its kind and looks at all aspects of the region’s transport system – road, rail, sea and air travel – and aims to develop an efficient transport network that helps Northland’s economic growth.


A six-week period for the public to have its say on the 80-page plus draft opened on Monday (subs: Mon Jan 18) and runs until 5pm on Friday 26 February.


Councillor Bain says the Regional Transport Committee – whose members include representatives from the Kaipara, Far North and Whangarei District Councils, the NRC and the New Zealand Transport Agency – is now effectively asking Northlanders if the draft is the right way to go.


He says a variety of other interests including safety and security, environmental sustainability, access and mobility, cultural interests, public health and economic development are also represented on the Committee.


“All our Committee members have had an input into the draft strategy so we’re reasonably confident it reflects a pretty broad range of viewpoints. But at the end of the day, it’s now up to the public to tell us if we’ve got it right or not.”


Cr Bain says the strategy outlines a number of challenges hampering the region’s transportation network and suggests a number of ways to overcome them.


It points out Northland currently has relatively poor access to Auckland and the rest of New Zealand, with limited opportunities for the growth of freight by rail.


Access to the Bay of Islands is either by road or by limited air service from Auckland. While some freight is taken to the deepwater port at Marsden Point for export, this is

hampered by the lack of direct rail access.


 “Materials that are processed locally are typically still transported to centres outside Northland prior to export.”


Fast forward 30 years and Cr Bain says the strategy envisages a region which boasts an expressway linking the Bay of Islands with Auckland (via Whangarei) greatly improving travel times.


Northland in 2040 also has improved rail connections to Auckland and to the Marsden Pt port, allowing more freight to access these routes and reducing truck movements.


This in turn allows the region to capture internationally bound exports from other parts of New Zealand as well as increasing the volume of goods made locally.


“Tourism will also benefit as air access is improved, particularly the introduction of international flights to Kerikeri’s airport.”


Councillor Bain says as well as the draft strategy proper, a six-page summary has also been produced.


Copies of both documents – and a submission form - are available from the Regional Council’s website via: www.nrc.govt.nz/transportstrategy Alternatively, hard copies are available from all Northland Regional Council offices and from public libraries.