Vehicle Testing New Zealand plans to raise the idea of compulsory emissions tests with Otago Regional Council staff in talks over the next few days, it was confirmed yesterday.
If adopted, about 75% of the city's buses could undergo separate VTNZ "five-star" emissions tests - at a cost of $70 a bus - before being able to operate on ORC-contracted routes across Dunedin.
The new tests would be in addition to visible smoke tests required since 2006 as part of a vehicle's warrant of fitness.
VTNZ business development general manager Mike Evans yesterday confirmed he planned to raise the matter with ORC staff, and would also approach the city's bus company operators directly to see if they would agree to voluntary tests.
"You would get a lot more if you made it compulsory," he said.
The move comes after Tourism Dunedin chairman Murray Walker this week criticised the pollution levels coming from some city buses, which he feared risked hurting the city's tourism industry.
"It's bad, it's seriously bad. We cannot afford to create that sort of impression for our visitors."
Otago Regional councillor Michael Deaker joined the debate on Wednesday, telling an ORC finance and corporate committee meeting he had "some sympathy" for the comments after spotting four relatively modern buses belching black smoke that morning.
"We have far too many badly smoking buses. Our buses should be exemplary," he said.
Mr Evans told the Otago Daily Times yesterday Dunedin's vehicle fleet was among the oldest the country, while the rate of vehicle renewal was slowing, causing the country's vehicle fleet to age, because of the current economic climate.
"The further south you go in New Zealand, the older the fleet. Dunedin has one of the oldest fleets in New Zealand - I imagine it's a problem there," he said.
However, ORC policy and resource planning director Fraser McRae disputed that, saying 88% of Citibus vehicles contracted to the ORC were aged three years or under, as were 54% of ORC-contracted Dunedin Passenger Transport buses.
Both companies were investing heavily in renewals, and the last complaint about a smoky bus raised with ORC staff by a member of the public was in July, he said.
The VTNZ proposal would be discussed, but Mr Fraser worried it would encourage a two-tiered standard for city buses - those under ORC contract, with higher standards, and those not contracted, which could operate at a lower level.
"I think the idea [of cleaner buses] is a good idea . . . but that we do it in a piecemeal way, I don't think is a good idea," he said.
And an angry Dunedin Passenger Transport director Kayne Baas told the Otago Daily Times buses were being unfairly singled out, despite being an environmentally friendly form of public transportation.
"This guy [Mr Walker] is just in another little dream fantasy world, and the guy obviously hasn't done his research. Tell him to go to Hong Kong and drive around and have a look at the pollution there," Mr Baas said.
Mr Walker could not be reached for further comment yesterday.
