Regional Transport Committee
1 April 2025
Regional Transport Committee Minutes
Meeting held in the Council Chamber
36 Water Street, Whangārei
on Tuesday 1 April 2025, commencing at 10:30 am -
12:30pm
Tuhinga/Present:
Chairperson, NRC Councillor Joe Carr
Deputy Chairperson, NRC Councillor John Blackwell
FNDC Councillor, Steve McNally
WDC Councillor, Simon Reid
KDC Councillor, Ash Nayyar (online)
Waka Kotahi Director Regional Relationships, Steve Mutton
KiwiRail Programme Director Northland, Eric Hennephof
I
Tae Mai/In Attendance:
Full Meeting
WDC Councillor – alternate, Phil Halse
FNDC Councillor - alternate, Ann Court
KDC Councillor – alternate, Rachel Williams
NRC Councillor, Marty Robinson
FNDC Manager of Transportation Services, Edward Varley
KDC Acting Roading Manager, Curt Martin
Group Manager - Community Resilience, Louisa Gritt
WDC GM Infrastructure, Jim Sephton
NRC Transport Manager, Chris Powell
NZTA Representative, Kathryn King (online)
NZ Transport Agency – Principal Investment Advisor,
Martin Taylor
NRC Policy Specialist, Micael Payne (online)
NRC Regional Transport Coordinator, Kayla Gunson
AA Representative, Tracey Rissetto
Northland Road Safety Trust, Ashley
Johnson
WDC Programme Manager - Road Safety Promotion, Nicole
Korach
Member of the public, David Eke
Member of the public, Hugh Stratton
The Chair declared the meeting open at 1030am.
Ngā Mahi Whakapai/Housekeeping (Item 1.0)
Ngā
whakapahā/Apologies (Item
2.0)
There were no apologies.
Nga
whakapuakanga/Declarations of Conflicts of Interest (Item 3.0)
It was advised that members should make declarations
item-by-item as the meeting progressed.
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Confirmation of Minutes - 11 February 2025 (Item 4.1)
Report from Haylee Labelle, Personal Assistant
Community Resilience
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Moved
(Mutton/Carr)
That the minutes of the Regional
Transport Committee meeting held on 11 February 2025 be confirmed as a true
and correct record and that these be duly authenticated by the Chair.
Carried
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Receipt of Action Sheet (Item 5.1)
Report from Haylee Labelle, Personal Assistant
Community Resilience
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Moved (Williams/Hennephof)
That the action sheet be
received.
Carried
Secretarial notes: The speed
bump in Kawakawa was discussed which has been causing issues for vehicles. It
was decided by NZTA that the platform would be removed and rebuilt with a lower
angle to resolve these concerns. Clarified with NZTA that no raised platforms
are being installed on state highways. The specific issue in Kawakawa was
highlighted as an exception due to its location on a bypass. Recreation Road,
Kaikohe was mentioned and it was decided to take this item offline for
further discussion.
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Regional Land Transport Plan 2021/2027 -
National Funding Assistance Uptake Report
(Item 6.1)
Report from Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland
Regional Council
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Moved (Reid/Carr)
That the report ‘Regional
Land Transport Plan 2021/2027 - National Funding Assistance Uptake Report’
by Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Regional Council and dated 6
March 2025, be received.
Carried
Secretarial notes: The funding
applications submitted by each approved authority to NZTA cover the period
from July 1 to February 28. The quarterly report will be lodged with NZTA on
April 16, including feedback from various road controlling authorities on the
funding update. The chair emphasized the importance of avoiding significant
carry overs to maintain credibility and ensure efficient use of funds.
RTC Identified a risk around
recruitment and retention challenges (particularly senior staff) and the need
for efficiency and productivity within the roading teams. Suggestions made
for creating cadet positions and regional training strategies.
Actions:
1. RTC
to write a letter to NZTA to acknowledge the performance achieved this
construction season (Carr/Balckwell)
2. KDC
to discuss extension of increased FAR for KDC with NZTA offline as per late
tabled request received after agenda circulated and not discussed at the
meeting
3. GMs
of councils to update RTC at the next meeting on their strategies to address
recruitment and retention.
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Road Controlling Authority Reports (Item 7.1)
Report from Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland
Regional Council
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Moved (McNally/Reid)
That the report ‘Road
Controlling Authority Reports’ by Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland
Regional Council and dated 6 March 2025, be received.
Carried
Secretarial notes: FNDC are Looking
into the possibility of reopening closed quarries to source aggregate for the
far north district.
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NZTA Waka Kotahi
Update for Te Tai Tokerau (Item 7.2)
Report from Steve Mutton, NZTA - Director Regional
Relationships, Te Tai Tokerau me Tāmaki Makaurau
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Moved (Mutton/Reid)
That the report ‘NZTA Waka
Kotahi Update for Te Tai Tokerau’ by Steve Mutton, NZTA - Director
Regional Relationships, Te Tai Tokerau me Tāmaki Makaurau and dated 10
March 2025, be received.
Carried
Secretarial notes: There are
currently 150 people working on the Northland Corridor. Geotech continues on
the Warkworth to Te Hana route with 10 drilling rigs in there. Met the first
stage of procurement for PPP and EOI have gone out to the market, this will
be a staged approach. Speed limits are under review with a 6-week
consultation period recently started. Results from earlier consultation will
be available soon. NZTA is exploring an increased speed limit for the Puhoi
to Warkworth route as the road was designed to accommodate higher speeds. Noted
a significant increase in restricted and full licence pass rates. Currently
on track to be out of Mangamuka by the end of April. Progress on Loop Road
being made with the work due for completion by the end of the year. Talked
about procurement and the ability to unbundle work to offer it to smaller
contractors (to build their capacity) with an integrated delivery
model. The chair expressed the appreciation of the committee for the
resources put into the RONs project
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KiwiRail Update (Item 7.3)
Report from Eric Hennephof, KiwiRail - Programme
Director Northland
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Moved (Hennephof/Carr)
That the report ‘KiwiRail
Update’ by Eric Hennephof, KiwiRail - Programme Director Northland and
dated 10 March 2025, be received.
Carried
Secretarial notes: Formal
huis have ben held with respective local hapu (Patuharekeke and Parawhau) who
they are partnering with in the development of the reference design. Hapu
form part of the project team and have contributed to the Safety in Design,
Environment in Design, and Sustainability in Design workshops. Hapu have
provided valuable input into the Archaeological Authority application and
review project reports as they become available. Local hapu have had the
ability to monitor in a cultural capacity the majority of the geotechnical
investigation. KiwiRail are continuing to work with Fonterra on improving the
entrance to their siding and the siding itself. Some additional funding has
been realised for the repair of some further critical culverts along the NAL.
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Regional Road Safety
Report (Item 7.4)
Report from Nicole Cauty, Road Safety Project Manager
and Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Regional Council
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Moved (Blackwell/Mutton)
That the report ‘Regional
Road Safety Report’ by, Nicole Cauty, Road Safety Project Manager and Nick
Marshall, Transportation Strategy & Planning Lead, dated 14 March 2025,
be received.
Carried
Secretarial notes: Update
provided that the current road toll is six, compared to 14 at the same time
last year, showing an improvement in road safety. The police will focus on
speed enforcement for the next six weeks, with an emphasis on reducing
speed-related incidents. Efforts are being made to improve safety around
schools, with police identifying schools where students' travel safety needs
to be addressed. Police have been sending through more reports on minor
crashes. Noted that Road Safety week is approaching. The bill has passed for
oral fluid testing (drugs). NZTA congratulated the team on their efforts to
reduce the road toll but would like to see a focus on restraints and
impairment as this continues to be an issue.
Action:
1. Road
Safety Project Manager to check if any data is available to share with NZTA
on an increase of road incidents following long periods of dry weather
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Regional Transport
Infrastructure Resilience Study (Item 7.5)
Report from Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland
Regional Council
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Moved (Carr/McNally)
That the report ‘Regional
Transport Infrastructure Resilience Study’ by Chris Powell, Transport
Manager - Northland Regional Council and dated 7 March 2025, be received.
Carried
Secretarial notes: Discussed
the scope and importance of the Regional Transport Infrastructure Resilience
Study, which aims to collect and integrate data from various sources to
support funding applications and prioritisation of projects for the Regional
Land Transport Plan. The study will provide a strong business case for
funding applications to NZTA and other relevant authorities, ensuring
efficient use of available funds. The study will involve collaboration with
road controlling authorities, civil defence, and other stakeholders to gather
comprehensive data on transport infrastructure resilience.
KDC wants to ensure that Northland’s
frequently used detour routes are recognised as critical roading
infrastructure and ask that it’s noted where each council has a shared
local road boundary (eg Cove Rd -KDC/WDC). For KDC this may also need to
include local road boundaries shared with Auckland Council (Mangawhai Rd
/Cames Rd - KDC/AC (feeding onto Lawrence Rd & onto Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Rd
KDC)). SH1 detour onto Paparoa Oakleigh Rd is also frequently used.
KDC asked that the current
condition of unsealed detour routes be noted and that NZTA recognises the
added maintenance these detour routes require, for themselves, also the local
councils and that future funding may be required to seal these detour routes.
Local councils are the ones dealing with high amounts of service requests
from ratepayers living on these detour routes. Unfortunately, as we know
councils do not receive FAR for sealing unsealed roads, but I strongly
believe councils should receive a FAR to assist with sealing critical detour
routes, collaboration with neighbouring councils and NZTA is crucial.
Action:
1. Ensure
that key detour routes are included in the resilience investigation and
business case for investment.
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Government
Procurement Rules - Consultation (Item 7.6)
Report from Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland
Regional Council
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Moved (McNally/Reid)
That the report ‘Government
Procurement Rules - Consultation’ by Chris Powell, Transport Manager -
Northland Regional Council and dated 13 March 2025, be received.
Carried
Secretarial notes: Reviewed
the government procurement rules consultation focusing on three main areas of
impact on procurement strategies. Each council negotiates with NZTA on their
procurement strategy. RTC agreed to prepare a high level combined submission
from the road controlling authorities to address the proposed changes in
procurement rules. The deadline for submissions is April 8. Noted that road
controlling authorities are able to make their own submissions. The impact is
any amendments NZTA makes to their policy.
Action
1. General
Managers to produce a combined submission on the Government Procurement Rules
for the chair of RTC to authorise and approve for submission.
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Committee Members
Priorities and Updates (Item 7.7)
Report from Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland
Regional Council and Kayla Gunson, Regional Transport Coordinator
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Moved (Williams/Blackwell)
1. That
the report ‘Committee Members Priorities and Updates’ by Chris
Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Regional Council and Kayla Gunson,
Regional Transport Coordinator and dated 10 March 2025, be received.
2. The
supplementary verbal updates provided by Regional Transport Committee members
be received.
Carried
Secretarial notes: Cr Nayyar asked
that this item added to the minutes Hokianga Road /Normanby (which is a state
highway 12) passing through town, requires a roundabout/ traffic light.
This has been pending for many years/talked about and has to be sorted
out as being considered very dangerous by pedestrians/ disabled people apart
of frequent near misses on regular basis. Face book link https://www.facebook.com/groups/793669218936253/?multi_permalinks=972906387679201
A number of issues were
raised by KDC Rachel Williams which will be either responded to by NZTA,
considered for inclusion in the next RLTP (which will be a full review) or
during the development of the Northland Integrated Transport Strategy.
Action:
1. NZTA
and KDC to discuss Hokianga Rd/Normanby Road offline
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Whakamutunga (Conclusion)
The meeting concluded at 12:00pm.