European tourists visiting Dunedin could disappear in a cloud of billowing black exhaust fumes unless the city does something about its bus fleet, tourism bosses fear.
Tourism Dunedin chairman Murray Walker yesterday expressed concern at the pollution coming from some city buses, fearing it was not a sight many European tourists, in particular, would be used to.
He worried it could hurt the city's image, at a time of global economic downturn and declining visitor numbers, and believed Dunedin needed to do "a hell of a lot more" to improve its vehicle fleet.
"It's bad, it's seriously bad. We cannot afford to create that sort of impression for our visitors," he said.
Mr Walker said the problem was highlighted recently as he drove behind a bus blowing "just shocking" amounts of black exhaust fumes.
He relayed the experience to yesterday's Dunedin City Council economic development committee meeting, and said he planned to raise the matter with the company concerned; which he did not name.
He acknowledged bus companies had vehicle renewal programmes, but believed more action was needed.
"We have a beautiful country and we need to look after it," he said.
Committee chairman Cr John Bezett said it was a view that had been expressed "many times" arond the council table.
Otago Regional Council staff and bus operators were quick to defend the city's vehicle fleet yesterday.
ORC policy and resource planning director Fraser McRae said the two companies with ORC contracts to provide public bus services, Dunedin Passenger Transport and Citibus, had invested heavily in recent years to upgrade fleets.
ORC contracts included a 15-year age limit on vehicles servicing the routes, he said.
Although there were no specific pollution controls in the contracts, public complaints would be followed up and problem buses taken off the road and examined.
About 75% of buses operated under ORC contract, although Mr McRae conceded buses covering commercial routes - outside ORC contract - were only required to be registered and warranted.
Nevertheless, he was "somewhat concerned these comments have been made, given the level of investment from the operators in the last few years".
"I think it's unfair," Mr McRae said.
Dunedin Passenger Transport director Kayne Baas said the company's investment included 16 newer "super-low floor" buses - 12 more than its existing ORC contracts required - and more, newer vehicles were on the way.
"We are doing as much as we possibly can as a private company to put newer buses on the road," he said.
Citibus director Paul Hudson was reluctant to comment, saying Mr Walker's comments did not appear to be directed at the organisation's vehicle fleet.
"We put a lot of money into improving our fleet," he said.
