9th March, 2010
Thames-Coromandel District Council, 2010/11 Annual Plan Submission
Name and Organisation: - Rob Davidson and John Meekings, (on behalf of Cycle Action Waikato)
Contact address: - P. O. Box 19-251, Hamilton. Postcode 3244.
Email: - cawaikato@can.org.nz Phone (07) 856 5217
No, we will not be attending the hearing.
Our submission is that: -
Improving your District Council’s knowledge and information on Cycling
Cycle Action Waikato would like to see Councils within the Waikato Region joining the New Zealand Cycling Advocates Network as supporting organisations.
This will increase knowledge of what is happening for cycling transport throughout New Zealand – new cycle facilities, cycle courses, cycle conferences, etc., through receiving the quarterly magazine publication of ‘Chainlinks’, and regular email updates of e.CAN - the email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ
In the Waikato Region, Hamilton and Rotorua are current supporting organisations of the Cycling Advocates Network. We would also like your District Council’s support for cycling, and we warmly invite you to join. The cost of this membership is $75/year.
Road resealing and capital works
The National Government’s $4Billion funding of the Waikato Expressway over the next ten years has resulted in the removal of Transport funding subsidy for Councils walking and cycling projects. This makes it imperative that District Council and NZTA-Transit ‘Annual Road Resealing’ works programs and Capital works projects make use of the opportunity to include walking and cycling facilities, e.g. widened road shoulders for roads in rural areas, and on-road cycle lanes for roads in urban areas of the District.
This is consistent with the Regional Walking and Cycling Strategy’s Infrastructure action that states: - “Identify opportunities for walking and cycling facilities through Territorial Authorities and the NZ Transport Agency infrastructure development projects (new and upgraded roading projects) and maintenance programmes (including reseal programmes).”
Cycle Action Waikato would like feedback on how well your Council is utilising road resealing programs and capital works projects, to enable the construction of parts of your District walking and cycling transportation network.
Climate Change
The RLTS has a long-term climate change target for the region. To meet this target it will need the support of all Districts within the Waikato Region. Most District Councils understand that climate change is likely to affect their district through a poorer growing climate for crops and livestock, along with extreme weather events that are likely to cause damage to crops, roading, bridges and other infrastructure.
What many District Councils do not seem to understand is that transportation within their district adversely contributes to climate change and that they can, and need to, reduce such impacts.
Does your District Council have a Climate Change Action Plan, including transportation actions?
Energy Efficiency
The Waikato Regional Walking and Cycling Strategy states that: - “The National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NEECS) sets the agenda for government programmes to promote greater energy efficiency and renewable energy across the economy. The Strategy was released in October 2007 and has the following objectives for transport:
Managing demand for travel
More efficient transport modes
Improving the efficiency of the transport fleet
Developing and adopting renewable fuels
The Strategy recognises the role that both central and local government can play in leading the integration of sustainable energy outcomes. The Strategy includes objectives, targets, policies and how these are to be achieved.”
Does your District Council have a National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NEECS) Transport Program Action Plan?
We seek the following decisions from your District Council:
Cycle Action Waikato warmly invites your District Council to join the Cycling Advocates Network as a ‘Supporting Organisation’.
Has your District Council Walking and Cycling Strategy mapped and evaluated the cost of Walking and Cycling Networks for Transportation?
What policy does your District Council have in place (and where) to ensure best utilisation of the opportunities created by the ‘Annual Road Resealing’ works programs and Capital works projects to include walking and cycling facilities: - e.g. District Plan, LTCCP, District Walking and Cycling Strategy etc?
Please list the walking and cycling facilities that your District Council is constructing through the 2010/11 ‘Annual Road Resealing’ works program and Capital works projects.
(i) Has your District Council joined the Communities for Climate Protection – New Zealand Program (CCP – NZ)? (ii) Does your District Council have a Climate Change Action Plan, including transportation actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? As an example, see the HCC Climate Change Action Plan on the internet - http://hamilton.co.nz/file/fileid/2500 If not, we request your District Council join the CCP-NZ and draft a Climate Change Action Plan within the next 3 years.
Is your District Council willing to put in place a National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NEECS) Transport Program Action Plan within the next 3 years?