Setting a targeted rate to help pay for improvements to Queenstown's bus services has been postponed for 12 months after a delay in securing funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency.
The Otago Regional Council had intended to strike a new transport rate from Queenstown residents for the 2009-2010 year for the provision of extra bus services in their area.
It had been waiting for news on whether the agency would meet its funding request for the services but it had not arrived.
ORC chief executive Graeme Martin said this week staff decided the council could wait no longer and would leave striking the rate for another 12 months.
Cr Duncan Butcher said if approval did come through, he hoped the council would be able to get services running early next year even though the rate had not been struck.
Cr Stephen Woodhead, the transport regional committee chairman, said the agency had deferred the Queenstown decision for another month.
"It's disappointing."
