Minister to launch transportation strategy

The Wakatipu Transportation Strategy, will be formally launched in Queenstown on Wednesday (14 November) by Minister of Transport the Hon Annette King, Queenstown Lakes District Council Mayor Clive Geddes said.


“It is entirely fitting that the Minister launches this strategy as a sign of the collaborative effort all parties have had in its creation,” Mr Geddes said.


Without the strong partnering of this council, Transit New Zealand and the Otago Regional Council, the strategy would not work.


“There has been broad acceptance that there is no option to simply ‘do nothing’. From that starting point we have created a strategy that I believe gives this community a strong platform to insure accessibility and mobility into the future. Transport is absolutely critical to the future of this district,” Mr Geddes said.


The guiding document was designed to enable agreement and collaboration into the future as key transport decisions were made. It set out a programme of Travel Demand Management (TDM), roading development, passenger transport and parking in the Wakatipu Basin from now to 2026.


“This council has invested a lot of time understanding the implications of being the fastest growing district in this country. It is rewarding to have that work acknowledged at a central government level, as it must be,” Mr Geddes said.


Minister of Transport the Hon Annette King said the Wakatipu Transportation Strategy was the sort of integrated planning that the whole country needed.


“Strategies such as the Wakatipu Transportation Strategy ensure that we have a transport network that encompasses all aspects of transport,” Ms King said.


Transit Regional Manager Mike O’Cain said that Transit was proud to be a partner to this strategy.


“It’s a great example of Transit working together with local government to make sure that the transport network in the Wakatipu Basin services the future growth of this district,” Mr O’Cain said.


The official launch would take place at a function held at the Queenstown Council Chamber.