Oamaru commuters wanting to catch a bus to Dunedin will have to wait at least three more years under draft regional transport plans but the region’s politicians want funding for even more transport services.
The Waitaki District Council has shown its support of the introduction of a 112km direct bus connection between Oamaru and Dunedin and a connecting service to the town’s North End in a submission to Otago Regional Council’s draft Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) 2025–2035.
"WDC has strongly advocated to ORC for public transport opportunities in the Waitaki district," Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said.
While the council continued to support the ongoing Total Mobility programme that provides opportunities for door-to-door public transport for disabled people in Oamaru and the regional bus service between Dunedin and Palmerston, the submission laid out aspirations for improved connectivity for Oamaru residents.
"One example relevant in the Waitaki district is providing public transport options to access hospital services in Dunedin," Mr Kircher said.
"WDC supports the implementation of daily services between Oamaru and Dunedin via Palmerston."
While a key proposal in ORC’s draft RPTP is to "investigate" an Oamaru-Dunedin service, the WDC submission asks for much more.
The council submission also pushes for the implementation of a "fixed urban connecter service" between Weston and Oamaru via South Hill, as well as an "on-demand" service between Oamaru North and the town’s city centre.
The submission suggested the regional transport plan "proactively engage with communities and organisations, including iwi, to foster trust and ensure public transport projects meet local demand and align with community priorities".
Oamaru residents are already charged a $5.45 public transport rate by the ORC to support regional planning and potential future services.
The inclusion of the Oamaru to Dunedin proposal responds to community interest expressed during the Long-Term Plan 2024–34 consultation in which over 400 submissions region-wide highlighted demand for public transport trials, including in Oamaru.
