When it comes to public transport, the Otago Regional Council should remember its mission statement, writes Lynne Hill.
The Otago Regional Council is, at the moment, responsible for administering public transport in Dunedin and Queenstown. There has been considerable dissatisfaction with some recent decisions, and some concern about the effect of future plans.
If we assess these plans and decisions in the light of the Otago Regional Council's mission statement and the relevant objectives, the council has more than a few questions to answer.
The ORC's mission statement and objectives say in part: ''Objectives are achieved in a transparent, accountable, and efficient manner. Economic, social and cultural needs are met. Plan transport needs and provide passenger transport services that integrate social, economic and environmental concerns.''
Council CEO Peter Bodeker recently attended a course on future thinking in Melbourne. How will the future of public transport look in five years' time, or in 20 years? We can be sure tourism will play a part. Dunedin recently made a major push for more tourists.
Because a large part of what we have to offer depends on wildlife, it is probable many of these people will be aware of the need to protect the environment, to conserve fossil fuels. Here is an opportunity to increase bus patronage.
Just how does the decision to abandon the bus stop outside Tahuna Park Motor Camp match with that development, and indeed with the statements expressed by the objectives and mission statement? Some parking in Dunedin cannot accommodate camper vans, and central city parking is not easy.
The demographic future includes an ageing population. A number of these people will not be able to drive, and some will not wish to drive in central city traffic. They will need passenger transport services which integrate social and economic needs.
The ORC's actions ignore the social needs. The refusal to realise senior citizens need access to the Dunedin Public Library, and the nearby service centre, is one example. Another is the new buses. They do not kneel as low as older buses, and the ticket reader is higher and more difficult to reach for short people and children. I have been told some of these buses do not kneel at all but require the driver to organise a ramp, which must certainly slow down the timetable.
Transparency is a rare quality. Consultation over the proposed bus hub was not transparent. It was not clear, and still is not, how the use of the bus hub will impact on people wishing to visit the hospital dental school or library. Nor has the ORC shown any wish to be clear how the impacts will be mitigated.
Passengers are not asked for their input before changes. Just ask bus users in the Concord area how much they knew about plans to drop that route, how difficult it has been to get responses from the council, and how long it took to get some action. It hardly meets the requirement for accountability.
Lynley Hood's very real concern for the ''transport disadvantaged'' has brought attention to the Corstorphine service, which is not meeting social and economic needs.
Please, Otago Regional Council, show us that your mission statement and objectives are being applied to the planning of passenger transport in Dunedin.
By the way, has Farmers Department Store been consulted about an influx of hundreds using the store as a throughway to the new bus hub? They might like some transparency, too.
-Mosgiel resident Lynne Hill is a keen reader, sometime writer and retired teacher.
[The Otago Regional Council declined the opportunity to respond to this piece. An ORC committee last week supported restoring a bus connection between Concord and Green Island. - Ed]
