A final draft of the Otago Regional Transport Strategy was signed off by committee members - representing the region's six district and local authorities, the New Zealand Transport Agency, the Police, and public health authorities - at a meeting in Dunedin yesterday.
The draft strategy will be released later this month and public submissions on the policy are scheduled to be heard by committee members at a hearing in July.
The strategy will provide an outline for future regional transport programmes around Otago - identifying priority projects for a bidding process to secure government funding via NZTA and the Ministry of Transport.
The committee resolved to have all of its members deliberate on the final strategy - despite Dunedin City councillor Andrew Noone's leave of absence during the last rounds of the decision-making process.
ORC policy and planning director Fraser McRae said under legislative standing orders the committee was unable to appoint an alternative representative in Mr Noone's place.
ORC chairman Stephen Woodhead said the city council would have to nominate another member to the regional council before they could be appointed to the transport committee.
He rejected a suggestion Mr Noone's leave of absence had complicated procedural matters.
"It's part and parcel of organising a large group like this.
We're locked in to government timeframes and it is critical to get the strategy locked down as soon as possible, because it informs the development of our transport programmes," he said.
Mr Noone said he would take a recommendation to the next council meeting to appoint a replacement for him on the committee.
A final schedule for the public hearings is still to be arranged. Transport committee members Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden and Waitaki District councillor Jim Hopkins are calling for a more inclusive approach to submitters across the region.
Provisions might be made to allow submitters to be heard via videoconference links from either Queenstown, Alexandra, or Oamaru during the hearing process, Mr Woodhead said.
Key dates
May 21: Transport strategy publicly notified by Otago Regional Council
June 21: Public submissions close
July 14-15: Public hearing to consider strategy submissions
July 29: Committee members decide on final transport strategy document
August 3: Regional council meets to consider ratification of transport strategy
