Protect Our Winters (POW), a non-profit organisation advocating for climate action and protecting winter sports and environments from climate change, has sent an open letter to the Otago Regional Council (ORC), highlighting the benefits such a service would have.
At present, the bus operating over the Crown Range is expensive and, due to departure times, is a tricky option for daily commuters.
POW comms coordinator Bronte Currie says there’s huge demand for a public transport option to link the two destinations, and it would reap many rewards.
"Of course there is an emissions aspect, but it would also be a safer way for tourists and those not comfortable driving across the Crown Range.
"Hopefully we would see improvements in congestion, which is obviously a key element when you are travelling into Queenstown at the moment."
The open letter notes transport emissions make up 47% of the Queenstown-Lakes’ total emissions, far higher than the national average of 17%.
"Transport emissions are comparatively easy to beat — the simple answer is to improve public transit options in our district," the letter says.
POW presented the letter to ORC councillors Alexa Forbes, Elliot Weir and Alan Somerville — Currie says they’re all "very supportive", but pointed out it’s important residents and businesses continue to make a noise if they want to turn the idea into reality.
"Residents of Palmerston, 50km north of Dunedin, managed to get a connection between Palmerston and Dunedin, purely out of perseverance of doing the same thing," Currie says.
"There’s only 5000 people in that area ... they just had a very loud voice."
Individuals can sign the open letter, via rb.gy/l7xmce — local businesses can show their support via rb.gy/k99feg
