Report 19.426
18/09/2019
File: CCAB-8-2468
Confirmed Public minutes of the Sustainable Transport
Committee meeting held on Wednesday 18 September 2019, in
the Council Chamber, Greater Wellington Regional Council,
Level 2, 15 Walter Street, Te Aro, Wellington at 9.30am
Present
Councillors Donaldson (Chair), Blakeley, Brash, Gaylor, Kedgley, Laban, Laidlaw,
Lamason, McKinnon, Ogden, Ponter, Staples, and Swain.
Marama Tuuta.
Public Business
Cr Donaldson opened the meeting with a karakia.
1
Apologies
There were no apologies.
2
Declarations of conflict of interest
There were no declarations of conflict of interest.
3
Public Participation
Public participants were heard in the following order:
Kerry Wood spoke on hubs and mass rapid transit system.
Steve Maggs and Alex Dyer spoke about their concerns with the current messages on
Metlink buses regarding weather in Wellington.
Mike Mellor spoke to agenda items 7, 8, 9 and 11.
4
Confirmation of the minutes of 7 August 2019
Moved
(Cr Lamason / Cr Blakeley)
That the Committee confirms the minutes of the meeting of 7 August 2019, Report
19.359.
The motion was
CARRIED.
5
Confirmation of Public excluded minutes of 7 August 2019
Moved
(Cr Lamason / Cr Blakeley)
That the Committee confirms the Public Excluded minutes of the meeting of 7 August
2019, Report 19.360.
The motion was
CARRIED.
The Chair tabled a letter received from the Secretary for Education regarding
public transport assistance provided to Upper Hutt College students following
the recent fire at the college. The Committee congratulated Public Transport
Officers Gail Reeves and Callum Kealey for their contribution.
6
Action items from previous meetings
Report 19.385
File ref: CCAB-20-729
Moved
(Cr Staples / Cr McKinnon)
That the Committee:
1. Receives the report.
2. Notes the content of the report.
The motion was
CARRIED.
7
Public Transport – operational performance
Catherine Jones, Commercial Manager, Public Transport, introduced the report.
Report 19.394 File ref: CCAB-20-796
Moved
(Cr McKinnon / Cr Blakeley)
That the Committee:
1. Receives the report.
2. Notes the content of the report.
The motion was
CARRIED.
8
Metlink service activities
Report 19.395
File ref: CCAB-20-797
Moved
(Cr / Cr)
That the Committee:
1. Receives the report.
2. Notes the content of the report.
3. Agrees to recommend that Council approves funding to fit the entire interim fleet
with bike racks at an estimated cost of $140,000 (plus GST).
The motion was put to the vote in parts. Parts 1 and 2 were
CARRIED. Part 3 was
CARRIED.
The meeting adjourned at 11.06am and reconvened at 11.25am.
Cr Swain was absent when the meeting reconvened.
The meeting accorded priority to agenda item 12 –
General Managers’ report to the
Sustainable Transport Committee meeting on 18 September 2019.
9
General Managers’ report to the Sustainable Transport Committee meeting on
18 September 2019
Andrew Body, Project Director, Let’s Get Wellington Moving, gave a presentation on
the LGWM project structure and deliverables.
Report 19.383
File ref: CCAB-20-790
Moved
(Cr Laidlaw / Cr Gaylor)
That the Committee:
1. Receives the report.
2. Notes the content of the report.
The motion was
CARRIED.
10
Post implementation review – next steps programme
Anthony Cross, Technical Lead, Metlink Bus Network Review, introduced the report.
Report 19.399
File ref: CCAB-20-798
Moved
(Cr Blakeley / Cr McKinnon)
That the Committee:
1.
Receives the report.
2.
Notes the content of the report.
3.
Notes that reports from the engagement process (focus groups, drop-in
workshops and online surveys) will be posted on the Metlink website when
finalised.
4.
Notes that recommendations on any changes to Eastern Suburbs bus routes and
timetables, taking into account the feedback received through the engagement
process, will be included in the final Wellington City Bus Network Review report
due in December 2019.
The motion was
CARRIED.
Note: Cr Swain returned to the meeting at 12.20pm during questions on the above item.
11
Free Christmas Day travel
Report 19.384
File ref: CCAB-20-791
Moved
(Cr Gaylor / Cr Lamason)
That the Committee:
1.
Receives the report.
2.
Notes the content of the report.
3.
Agrees to provide free travel on Christmas Day on Metlink bus and rail
services.
4.
Notes that the expected cost of providing free travel on Christmas Day can be
met from existing public transport budgets.
5.
Notes that the proposed approach will ensure a more consistent customer
experience across the public transport network in accordance with Policy 1(c)
of the Regional Public Transport Plan.
6.
Notes that officers will communicate the Committee’s decision to Metlink bus
and rail operators and to Snapper for implementation.
7.
Notes that the fares information on the Metlink website will be updated to
reflect the Committee’s decision, along with any service disruptions affecting
the scope of services available on Christmas Day.
The motion was
CARRIED.
12
Notices of Motion: Cr Daran Ponter
Report 19.421
File ref: CCAB-20-806
Motion One
Moved
(Cr Ponter / Cr Gaylor)
That the Committee:
a.
Notes that hubbing is extremely unpopular with Wellington commuters – in
large part because the City does not have the service frequency and the
network is not managed in a disciplined enough fashion to provide for timely
connections.
b.
Notes that when the new bus network was originally proposed the percentage
of people likely to have to transfer was as high as 20-25%.
c.
Notes that following public consultation the amount of hubbing was reduced
to approximately 7% (up from 4% under the old network), but that even at
this level the need to hub remains a sore point with many commuters.
d.
Notes that Mass Rapid Transit has the potential to revisit the issue of forced
transfers on the Wellington commuting public by connecting local buses to a
central spine and forcing many people who currently have a direct service
into the City, to have to transfer.
e.
Requests the Chief Executive, Greater Wellington Regional Council, to
request the Let’s Get Wellington Moving project team to deliver a report in
tandem with the Business Case for Mass Rapid Transit, which:
i.
details the extent of potential transfers for Wellington commuters using
the Mass Rapid Transit system (and any differences between the three
identified modes – light rail; trackless trams and bus rapid transit);
ii. how the extent of transferring might be reduced or minimised; and
iii. how the transferring might be better accommodated (transfer times,
transfer experience, etc.).
The motion was
CARRIED.
Motion Two
Moved
(Cr Ponter / Cr Lamason)
That the Committee:
a.
Notes that cycling is prohibited by Wellington City Council in the Lambton
Interchange, but cycles/scooters continue to use this area as a short cut.
b.
Notes that this situation is the source of concern for Wellington bus drivers.
c.
Notes that because riding a bike or a scooter through a prohibited area is a
moving violation this is a matter for Police enforcement, rather than
Wellington City Council enforcement.
d.
Invites the Chief Executive, Greater Wellington Regional Council, to formally
write to the Wellington City Council and the New Zealand Police, requesting
stronger enforcement of the biking prohibition in place through the Lambton
Interchange.
The motion was
CARRIED.
13
Exclusion of the public
Report PE19.422
File ref: CCAB-20-805
Moved
(Cr Brash/ Cr Blakeley)
That the Committee:
1. Excludes the public from the following part of the proceedings of this meeting, namely:
Strategic assessment for transitioning to a zero emission bus fleet
Round the Bays 2020 – public transport support
Securing land for public transport purposes
The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reasons for
passing this resolution in relation to each matter and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of
the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the Act) for the passing of this
resolution are as follows:
General subject of each Reason for passing this resolution Ground under section 48(1) for
matter
to
be in relation to each matter
the passing of this resolution
considered:
Strategic assessment Certain information contained in this That the public conduct of the
for transitioning to a report relates to future bus service whole or the relevant part of the
zero emission bus procurement and contracting in the proceedings of the meeting
fleet
Wellington Region. Release of this would be likely to result in the
information would be likely to disclosure of information which
prejudice or disadvantage the ability good reason for withholding
of Greater Wellington Regional exists under section 7(2)(i) of
Council
(GWRC)
to
carry
on the Act (i.e. to carry out
negotiations with bus operators
and/or other suppliers of future fleet negotiations without prejudice).
for the Metlink public transport
network. GWRC has not been able to
identify a public interest favouring
disclosure
of
this
particular
information in public proceedings of
the meeting that would override the
need to withhold the information.
Round
the
Bays Information contained in this report That the public conduct of the
2020
–
public relates to potential public transport whole or the relevant part of the
transport support
support for Rounds the Bays 2020. proceedings of the meeting
Release of this information would be would be likely to result in the
likely to prejudice or disadvantage disclosure of information which
the ability of Greater Wellington good reason for withholding
Regional Council (GWRC) to carry exists under section 7(2)(i) of
on negotiations with event organisers the Act (i.e. to carry out
regarding the level of support (if any) negotiations without prejudice).
to be provided. GWRC has not been
able to identify a public interest
favouring
disclosure
of
this
particular information in public
proceedings of the meeting that
would override the need to withhold
the information.
Securing land for Information in this report contains That the public conduct of the
public
transport legal advice obtained in relation to whole or the relevant part of the
purposes
options available to GWRC for proceedings of the meeting
securing land for public transport would be likely to result in the
purposes. Release of this information disclosure of information which
would be likely to prejudice the good reason for withholding
maintenance of legal professional exists under section 7(2)(g) of
privilege. GWRC has not been able to the Act (i.e. to maintain legal
identify a public interest favouring
disclosure
of
this
particular professional privilege).
information in public proceedings of
the meeting that would override the
need to withhold the information.
2. Permits Brannavan Gnanalingam, Senior Associate, Buddle Findlay, and Charlotte von
Dadelszen, Partner, Buddle Findlay, to remain at this meeting after the public has been
excluded because of their knowledge of matters related to securing of land for public transport
purposes. Their knowledge will be of assistance in relation to the matter to be discussed,
because it is the subject of the report.
This resolution is made in reliance on section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information
and Meetings Act 1987 and the particular interest or interests protected by section 6 or section 7 of
that Act which would be prejudiced by the holding of the whole or the relevant part of the
proceedings of the meeting in public are as specified above.
The motion was
CARRIED.
The public part of the meeting closed at 12.31pm.
Cr C Laidlaw
(Council Chair)
Date:
