Public transport governance

December 17 2015

In a council meeting today, Environment Canterbury commissioners agreed a Joint Committee should be established to oversee greater Christchurch’s public transport.

The decision comes after a report by public sector consultant Peter Winder recommended amalgamating the responsibility for public transport in greater Christchurch to a Joint Committee of the four local authorities - Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri District Council, Selwyn District Council and Environment Canterbury.

Environment Canterbury commissioner Rex Williams said the delivery of an effective public transport network was an essential component to the long-term recovery and further development of greater Christchurch.

“Establishing a Joint Committee for public transport in greater Christchurch will be another step toward improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the public transport system,” he said.

“Mr Winder’s report included some other options, but they could take around two years to implement whereas this new Committee can be formed quickly, within weeks if all the local authorities agree to it.”

A Joint Committee involves representatives from different organisations joining together to work collectively, for example the Canterbury Waste Joint Committee.

Environment Canterbury is the first of the four authorities to consider the recommendation to form the Joint Committee, with each council expected to make a decision whether to agree to it within the next few months.

Membership would be made up of an independent Chair, three representatives each from Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury, one representative each from Selwyn and Waimakariri District Councils, and with NZTA represented in a non-voting observer role.

Williams said Winder’s report highlighted the need for a more integrated and aligned decision-making within greater Christchurch.

“The greatest chance of completely integrated decision-making will come from the delegation of all decisions relating to public transport to the Joint Committee, and today we agreed in principle to delegate as much as we legally can to this proposed joint committee.”

“We are looking forward to the other Council’s decisions on this matter.”

ends

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