Memorandum of Understanding to be signed to address transport challenges in Queenstown

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), Otago Regional Council (ORC) and the New Zealand Transport Association (NZ Transport Agency) are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise a collaborative approach to addressing transport challenges in Queenstown.

QLDC General Manager Property and Infrastructure Peter Hansby said the collaborative arrangement recognises that all three agencies have an important stake in driving change.

“We have a unique situation in that Queenstown is experiencing substantial and sustained growth across a number of sectors including tourism. Given the scale and complexity of the infrastructure changes needed, working together in this way means we’re utilising the collective resources of the agencies and ensures everything we do is the best possible overall response for Queenstown,” he said.

ORC Director of Corporate Services Nick Donnelly said “This MOU will formalise a collaborative partnership that has already been really productive in terms of tackling the complex transport challenges we face in Queenstown. The new public transport service is a great example of what we can achieve by working together. We’ll be working closely with QLDC and NZTA to ensure an integrated approach as we develop and grow Orbus Queenstown alongside the changing needs of the community.”

NZ Transport Agency Director Regional Relationships, Jim Harland added “We know that public transport – buses and possibly ferries – cycling and walking will be a bigger part of the region’s future transport network. We need to work together to plan carefully for this and to make it easier and safer for everyone to make choices about how they move about.”

There has already been a significant amount of planning work completed to identify potential solutions, including the Queenstown Integrated Transport Programme and Queenstown Town Centre Masterplan.

The group will build on this and is already making good progress on a number of key Queenstown Transport modelling and business case projects, including:

· Queenstown Town Centre (detailed business case)

· Frankton to Queenstown (single stage business case)

· Wakatipu Active Travel Network (single stage business case)

· Grant Road to Kawarau Falls Bridge (detailed business case)

· Frankton Masterplan (programme business case)

· Lake Wakatipu Public Water Ferry Service (detailed business case)

· Queenstown Transport Modelling (to feed into business case projects)

The Memorandum of Understanding will be formally signed by all three parties in November.

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