The Bay of Plenty’s Regional Land Transport Plan 2021 has been approved for public consultation regarding the spend of the $3 billion budget set aside for transport development projects over the next 10 years.
A sub-committee has been formed to oversee public consultation, expected to begin on March 5, and public hearings scheduled to take place from April 13 to 15. The committee consists of Whakatane deputy mayor Andrew Isles, Rotorua deputy mayor David Donaldson, regional councillor Lyall Thurston, regional councillor Jane Nees, a Tauranga City Council commissioner – yet to be decided on – and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Kotahi’s David Spiers. They will work together to finalise a plan to submit to Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency on June 30.
This plan will outline the regions 10-year land transport programme and investment strategy, with emphasis on addressing mode shift, public transport and climate change. Key objectives of this plan are: health and safety of people; inclusive access; environmental sustainability; economic prosperity; resilience and security.
An exchange between Kawerau mayor Malcolm Campbell and Waka Kotahi NZTA took place at Bay of Plenty Regional Council Regional Transport Committee meeting. Campbell said he had, in 2019, requested changing the speed limit from 100km/h to 70km/h on a 2km section of State Highway 34 which thousands of trucks used daily. “We’ve got three major intersections and heavy transport comes in and out all of the time. Kawerau District Council has a large truck operation with vehicles going through there at 100km/h.” Campbel aims to resolve this as soon as possible to avoid a tragedy.
The committee agreed that the Statement of Proposal for the plan forward should be included in the public consultation – rather than expecting people to read a large and weighty document.
