Dear Mr Millar,
Thank you for your email, received on 7 April 2021. You requested the following information, under
the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA):
1. A breakdown of the cost savings per year, is it in fact costing $900,000 per year to run
this lounge? That's the way I've read the fact that it will save $600k per year and
there is a $300k subsidy provided.
2. How much was spent on the fitout (and recent refurb) of these bus lounges and will
any of this will be able to be recouped?
3. What consultation has been performed with both the public and "public transport
partners"? This would include any communication, including both emails and meeting
notes/minutes, with ECan/MetroInfo and bus operators as well as any surveys
performed on the public (whether it be bus/lounge users or a wider group). I'm
particularly interested in communication regarding this lounge as part of the wider
future public transport strategy as it was specifically mentioned as being core to the
change to a more "interchange focused" network a few years ago.
4. Have any surveys of usage been performed on the bus lounges? How many people
make use of them each week? Have any other statistics, figures or anecdotes been
captured on the usage of the bus lounges?
5. Any other papers or documents produced by or provided to the council staff regarding
the bus lounges in the last year.
6. If the LTP is approved what is the intended timeframe for closing the bus lounges?
7. Currently the communication regarding the proposed closure of these bus lounges is
two A4 pages in small font. What communication plan has been proposed for
ensuring people relying on these lounges are informed?”
Refinement of request
On 15 April 2021, you refined the scope of your request to the initial fit out, strengthening and other
work undertaken to open the bus lounges which cannot be recovered as part of the removal of
them.
Please find below a response to your LGOIMA request.
1. The total cost of running the bus lounges is $600,000 per year. This is partially offset by
$300,000 of subsidy from Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency. If the proposed
closure goes ahead, the net saving would be $300,000 per year. A breakdown of these cost
is attached in
Riccarton Road Bus Lounges yearly costs 2016 – 2020.
However, we have decided to redact a section relating to sub lease information withheld
under the following section of the LGOIMA:
-
7(2)(b)(ii) – to protect the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the
subject of the information.
In the Council's view the reasons for withholding these details are not outweighed by public
interest considerations in section 7(1) favouring their release.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or freephone 0800 802 602.
2. The fit out and structural upgrade costs are attached. Whether any of the fit out costs can be
recouped or not will depend on the process and outcome arrived at to exit the lease. This
would be undertaken following a decision. Please refer to the attachment
Riccarton Road
Bus Lounges fit out and structural upgrade costs.
3. There has not been specific consultation with the public or partners regarding the proposed
closure, however all consultation has been via the Draft Long Term Plan (LTP) consultation
process. Christchurch City Council does not hold any communication with Environment
Canterbury or Metro regarding the proposed closures, all correspondence has been made
via verbal communication. Attached is the Division Street Super Stop consultation feedback
and responses. This document was attached to the Infrastructure Transport Environment
Committee and Council reports as well as being considered by the then Riccarton-Wigram
Community Board in November 2014.
4. We do not hold information on the usage of the lounges. Environment Canterbury may be
able to provide bus usage numbers as they monitor the lounges. To obtain this information,
our staff would need to physically count people coming in via CCTV footage which could take
many hours or more to collate.
5. We have not produced any documents in the past year regarding the closure of the lounges,
as per above all communication has been via the LTP consultation process.
6. As this is a current proposed closure, there has been no detailed planning undertaken. It is
likely that this would occur between July and December 2021.The current lease for this
building runs to 2025 so surrendering the lease is subject to negotiations with subtenants
and suppliers.
7. Please refer to the above. This will be undertaken following a decision.
Release of information
Please find attached the following information:
1. Riccarton Road Bus Lounges yearly costs.
2. Riccarton Road Bus Lounges fit out and structural upgrade costs.
3. Division Street Super Stop Consultation Feedback and Response 2014
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review our decision. Complaints can be
sent by email to
[email address]. Publication of responses to LGOIMA requests
Please note: our LGOIMA responses may be published on the Christchurch City Council website a
month after they have been responded to, with requesters’ personal details withheld. If you have
any concerns about this please contact the Official Information team on
[Christchurch City Council request email]. Yours sincerely,
Ana Macadie
Information Advisor
Office of the Mayor and Chief Executive
