November 20, 2009

Work has started on a new strategy to manage Canterbury’s transport system - the Canterbury Regional Land Transport Strategy 2011 – 2041.

Development of the strategy is being led by the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee - a committee that brings together representatives from Environment Canterbury, the New Zealand Transport Agency and city and district councils in the region. The committee also has representatives to address economic development, safety, public health, access and mobility, environmental sustainability and cultural interests.

As part of the development of the strategy, the Regional Transport Committee is seeking to understand the key challenges facing our transport system over the next 30 years.

Regional Transport Committee chair and Environment Canterbury Councillor Jo Kane says that the committee wants to ensure that plans reflect community needs and those of generations to come.

“The decisions we make now will shape the future for the region’s transport. This is a great opportunity for people to say what they think when it matters – before we start.

Your input will help us develop a clearer understanding of the issues so we can then start investigating the best options for managing them.”

“Every district will have their own perspective on the transport issues that are important to them. Our job is to collate those views and produce a regional plan that will set out the key transport plans to be progressed within Canterbury over the next 30 years,” says Cr Kane.

Deputy Mayor Michael Oliver is a member of the Regional Transport Committee and says that there are many issues that will affect transport planning for the Timaru District over the next 30 years.

“We need to consider how we are going to ensure our freight networks (road, rail, and sea) are adequate to service agriculture and its associated processing industries. How can we meet the needs of our more rural towns if the price of oil rises significantly as it is expected to do?”

“I urge you to have your say to ensure that the needs of our district are identified in the overall regional strategy. The final transport strategy will provide the basis for funding allocations and so it is critical that all the issues that need to be considered are identified at this early stage,” says Cr Oliver.

Comments are welcomed until 9 December online: http://http://www.ecan.govt.nz/transport

Public input will be used to compile a draft strategy that will undergo further public consultation in 2011.

Please find attached a leaflet which summarises some of the key issues affecting the region: http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0911/canterbury.pdf

ENDS