I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Infrastructure Committee will be held on:

 

Date:                      

Time:

Meeting Room:

Venue:

 

Wednesday, 25 March 2015

9.30am

Rooms 1 and 2

Level 26
135 Albert Street
Auckland

 

Infrastructure Committee

 

OPEN AGENDA

 

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

Chairperson

Cr Mike Lee

 

Deputy Chairperson

Cr Chris Darby

 

Members

Cr Cameron Brewer

 

 

Cr Dr Cathy Casey

 

 

Cr Bill Cashmore

 

 

Cr Ross Clow

 

 

Cr Hon Christine Fletcher, QSO

 

 

Ms Liane Ngamane

 

 

Cr Calum Penrose

 

 

Cr Dick Quax

 

 

Cr Wayne Walker

 

 

Cr John Watson

 

 

Mr Glenn Wilcox

 

Ex officios

Mayor Len Brown, JP

 

 

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse

 

 

(Quorum 7 members)

 

 

 

Barbara Watson

Democracy Advisor

 

20 March 2015

 

Contact Telephone: (09) 890 8105

Email: barbara.watson@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

Responsibilities

 

Overview and provide feedback on key physical infrastructure plans and projects relating to transport, water, wastewater and stormwater.

 

Provide strategic direction to guide development of transport, water, wastewater and stormwater strategies.

 

Consider views of Local Boards, public, stakeholders and infrastructure providers in relation to infrastructure planning, delivery and operation.

 

Make recommendations to the parent committee to ensure:

 

·         alignment between the infrastructure sector, the Auckland Plan and the Unitary Plan to manage Auckland’s growth

·         alignment of the Regional Land Transport Plan and Integrated Transport Programme with the council’s strategic direction

·         alignment of water, wastewater and stormwater strategies with the council’s strategies and plans

·         asset management plans for physical infrastructure support the Unitary Plan and other relevant council plans and policies

·         council input to legislative changes, central government policies and plans and key infrastructure projects

·         council consideration of infrastructure strategy and planning matters from across Auckland’s infrastructure sector.

 

Powers

 

All powers necessary to perform the Committee’s responsibilities.

 

Except:

 

(a)     powers that the Governing Body cannot delegate or has retained to itself (see Governing Body responsibilities)

(b)     where the Committee’s responsibility is limited to making a recommendation only

 


EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC – WHO NEEDS TO LEAVE THE MEETING

 

Members of the public

 

All members of the public must leave the meeting when the public are excluded unless a resolution is passed permitting a person to remain because their knowledge will assist the meeting.

 

Those who are not members of the public

 

General principles

 

·         Access to confidential information is managed on a “need to know” basis where access to the information is required in order for a person to perform their role.

·         Those who are not members of the meeting (see list below) must leave unless it is necessary for them to remain and hear the debate in order to perform their role.

·         Those who need to be present for one confidential item can remain only for that item and must leave the room for any other confidential items.

·         In any case of doubt, the ruling of the chairperson is final.

 

Members of the meeting

 

·         The members of the meeting remain (all Governing Body members if the meeting is a Governing Body meeting; all members of the committee if the meeting is a committee meeting).

·         However, standing orders require that a councillor who has a pecuniary conflict of interest leave the room.

·         All councillors have the right to attend any meeting of a committee and councillors who are not members of a committee may remain, subject to any limitations in standing orders.

 

Staff

 

·         All staff supporting the meeting (administrative, senior management) remain.

·         Only staff who need to because of their role may remain.

 

Local board members

 

·         Local Board members who need to hear the matter being discussed in order to perform their role may remain.  This will usually be if the matter affects, or is relevant to, a particular local board area.

 

Independent Maori Statutory Board (IMSB)

 

·         Members of the IMSB who are appointed members of the meeting remain.

·         Other IMSB members and IMSB staff remain if this is necessary in order for them to perform their role.

 

Council-controlled Organisations (CCOs)

 

Representatives of a CCO can remain only if required to for discussion of a matter relevant to the CCO.

 


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

ITEM   TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                                        PAGE

1          Apologies                                                                                                                        7

2          Declaration of Interest                                                                                                   7

3          Confirmation of Minutes                                                                                               7

4          Petitions                                                                                                                          7

5          Public Input                                                                                                                    7

5.1     Redoubt Ridge Environmental Action Group - David Price                           7

6          Local Board Input                                                                                                          7

7          Extraordinary Business                                                                                                8

8          Notices of Motion                                                                                                          8

9          Update from Auckland Transport                                                                                9

10        Stormwater Infrastructure Update - February 2015                                                11

11        Update from Watercare Services Ltd                                                                        19

12        Light Rail 2015 Conference, Sydney, Australia                                                        29

            Due to its size and complexity, Attachment B is available under separate cover

13        Information Items                                                                                                         35

14        Consideration of Extraordinary Items

 


1          Apologies

 

Apologies from Mayor Len Brown and Deputy Mayor PA Hulse have been received.

 

2          Declaration of Interest

 

Members are reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision making when a conflict arises between their role as a member and any private or other external interest they might have.

 

3          Confirmation of Minutes

 

That the Infrastructure Committee:

a)         confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Wednesday 3 December 2014, as a true and correct record.

 

4          Petitions

 

At the close of the agenda no requests to present petitions had been received.

 

5          Public Input

 

Standing Order 3.21 provides for Public Input.  Applications to speak must be made to the Committee Secretary, in writing, no later than two (2) working days prior to the meeting and must include the subject matter.  The meeting Chairperson has the discretion to decline any application that does not meet the requirements of Standing Orders.  A maximum of thirty (30) minutes is allocated to the period for public input with five (5) minutes speaking time for each speaker.

 

5.1       Redoubt Ridge Environmental Action Group - David Price

Purpose

1.       Mr David Price, Chairman of the Redoubt Ridge Environmental Action Group wishes to address the committee with regard to the Mill Road Corridor Project, requesting council to defer approval for the Notice of Requirements (NORs) for this project.

Recommendation/s

That the Infrastructure Committee:

a)      thank David Price, Chairman of Redoubt Ridge Environmental Action Group, for his presentation.

 

6          Local Board Input

 

Standing Order 3.22 provides for Local Board Input.  The Chairperson (or nominee of that Chairperson) is entitled to speak for up to five (5) minutes during this time.  The Chairperson of the Local Board (or nominee of that Chairperson) shall wherever practical, give two (2) days notice of their wish to speak.  The meeting Chairperson has the discretion to decline any application that does not meet the requirements of Standing Orders.

 

This right is in addition to the right under Standing Order 3.9.14 to speak to matters on the agenda.

 

At the close of the agenda no requests for local board input had been received.

 

7          Extraordinary Business

 

Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

 

“An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with at that meeting if-

 

(a)        The local  authority by resolution so decides; and

 

(b)        The presiding member explains at the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public,-

 

(i)         The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and

 

(ii)        The reason why the discussion of the item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.”

 

Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

 

“Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,-

 

(a)        That item may be discussed at that meeting if-

 

(i)         That item is a minor matter relating to the general business of the local authority; and

 

(ii)        the presiding member explains at the beginning of the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the item will be discussed at the meeting; but

 

(b)        no resolution, decision or recommendation may be made in respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent meeting of the local authority for further discussion.”

 

8          Notices of Motion

 

At the close of the agenda no requests for notices of motion had been received.

 


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

Update from Auckland Transport

 

File No.: CP2014/29759

 

Purpose

1.       Mark Lambert, Group Manager Public Transport, Anthony Cross, Public Transport Network Manager, and Ben Fernandez, PT Integrated Fares Project Director, of Auckland Transport, will give verbal presentations to update the Infrastructure Committee with regard to the public consultation on the bus New Network project and the Integrated Fares project.

2.       Steve Hawkins, Chief Engineer and Stephen Rainbow, Head of Strategic Relationships, City Rail Link will also give a presentation regarding Light Rail.

Recommendation/s

That the Infrastructure Committee:

a)      thank the Group Manager Public Transport, Public Transport Network Manager and the PT Integrated Fares Project Director, of Auckland Transport, for their presentations.

b)      thank Steve Hawkins and Stephen Rainbow for their presentation on Light Rail.

 

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Authors

Barbara Watson - Democracy Advisor

Authorisers

Dean Kimpton - Chief Operating Officer

 


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

Stormwater Infrastructure Update - February 2015

 

File No.: CP2015/00028

 

Purpose

1.       To provide an update on Auckland Council’s stormwater work programme and an overview of major stormwater infrastructure projects, risks and achievements. 

Executive Summary

2.       This report provides a summary of Auckland Council’s progress in delivering its stormwater capital works programme.

3.       An update on progress on other major focus areas for stormwater is also provided, including ongoing work to support development in Special Housing Areas, manage public safety in relation to stormwater risk and finalise the Stormwater Bylaw.

4.       Finally, a summary of recent work that council has done to engage or consult with mana whenua on stormwater issues is outlined.

5.       Overall the delivery of council’s stormwater capital works programme is slightly behind schedule after the first half of the 2014/15 financial year with an actual spend of $28.8 million against a budget of $29.9 million for the first half of the year. The full year forecast remains within the approved budget of $65 million.

Recommendation

That the Infrastructure Committee:

a)      receive the ‘Stormwater Infrastructure Update - February 2015’ report.

Discussion

6.       Delivery of Auckland Council’s stormwater capital works programme is slightly behind schedule with an actual spend of $28.8 million against a budget of $29.9 million for the first half of the 2014/15 year. The full year forecast remains within the approved budget of $65 million.

 

Major stormwater capital works projects

Freemans Bay New Stormwater Outfalls

7.       The objective of this project is to undertake flood alleviation works to reduce frequent flooding of roads and commercial floors, basement car parks and major transport routes around the lower Freemans Bay area and Victoria Park, at an estimated capital cost of $20 million. 

8.       This project has now been split into three separate projects that will be delivered over differing time periods to ensure the components that support development are completed in the appropriate timeframes. 

9.       The first project to be delivered is a package of stormwater network upgrades in Wynyard Quarter. These will be coordinated with Auckland Transport and Waterfront Auckland capital works in the area. See the Wynyard Quarter Stormwater Upgrades section below for an update on this part of the project. 

10.     The second project involves the construction of a high level outlet. This asset will only operate during large storm events and discharge stormwater into Lighter Quay basin to prevent flooding of commercial floors and roads.  Preliminary design of this project is now underway.

11.     The third, and largest portion of the project, involves working collaboratively with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to identify a solution for the main stormwater flooding issues in the area with provision for a potential diversion pipeline around the proposed second harbour crossing. Delivery of this project has been deferred until the design of the second harbour crossing is complete. Council’s stormwater team will work with NZTA to manage any conflict between the positioning of the possible second harbour crossing tunnels and existing and proposed stormwater pipes.

Wynyard Quarter Stormwater Upgrades

12.     The objective of this project is to undertake flood alleviation works to reduce flooding of commercial floors and frequent flooding of roads in the Wynyard Quarter at an estimated capital cost of $10 million (refer Attachment B). The project also supports the proposed further development of Wynyard Quarter.

13.     Design and construction works are programmed to be split into three packages to coincide with the proposed road upgrades and development requirements. 

14.     Agreements are being finalised with Auckland Transport and Waterfront Auckland to include the design and construction of the proposed stormwater works in their respective proposed capital works contracts.

Walmsley-Underwood Oakley Stream Widening

15.     The objective of this project is to undertake flood alleviation works to reduce habitable floor flooding of 98 houses and to provide for growth in the Oakley stormwater catchment at an estimated capital cost of $20 to 22 million. 

16.     The preliminary design of this project is progressing well and the detailed design is on track to begin in the middle of this year. 

17.     Reflecting the collaborative nature of this project, Iwi representatives have been appointed to the steering group and the project working group. Discussions are also being held with iwi representatives on a new Maori name for the project.

18.     Primary local board engagement on this project has been with the Puketapapa Local Board with a number of briefings held and invitations extended to the Whau and Albert Eden Local Boards as Oakley Creek also flows through their local board areas. 

19.     A community engagement approach to this project has been adopted and a community Action Group (CAG) has been formed. A meeting was held with community groups. interested in the development of a community nursery on 24 October 2014 to develop a plan around seed harvesting and seedling growth for the riparian zones of the project.

20.     Initial meetings with Owairaka Primary, Wesley Intermediate and Wesley Primary have been held to brief the schools on the project.  All schools have registered an interest in the project and work to identify ways that the project could compliment curriculum delivery is underway.

Ports of Auckland Stormwater Upgrade Project

21.     The objective of this project is to rehabilitate or replace the Stanley Street outfall pipeline as this currently in poor condition. This will resolve extensive flooding in the area.  The scope of the project includes construction of a substantial culvert (likely width around 3.3 metres) from the rail corridor, across Quay Street and through Ports of Auckland land to the sea. The project will supplement or replace the existing stormwater pipeline and will address flooding in the lower catchment and Britomart entrance.

22.     The procurement phase of an Early Contractor Involvement design and build type contract is nearly complete with an appointment expected to be made in February 2015. 


Artillery Drive Stormwater Upgrade Project

23.     This project involves providing a large stormwater tunnel to recently released greenfields land in Takanini at an estimated capital cost of approximately $22 million. The project objective is to provide stormwater infrastructure for growth and to remove the existing stormwater constraints (flooding). This project, in conjunction with the Takanini Conveyance Cascades project (see below), will enable development of approximately 1,500 properties in Takanini. 

24.  Detailed design of the project is underway and is being progressed by council officers with the intention of utilising the Housing Accord Special Housing Areas legislation to fast track the consent process. Consents are forecast to be lodged in February.  

25.  Expressions of interest (EOI) have been received and evaluated for the construction phase of the project. Once the consents for the project are approved, a request for tenders (RFT) will be sent out to the successful contractors identified through the EOI process.

 

Takanini Conveyance Cascades

26.  This project involves providing a large stormwater channel in the proposed Artillery Drive Tunnel that will service recently released greenfields land in Takanini at an estimated capital cost of approximately $20.5 million. The project objective is to provide stormwater infrastructure for growth and remove the existing stormwater constraints (flooding). This project, in conjunction with the Artillery Road Stormwater Upgrade Project described above, will enable development of approximately 1,500 properties in Takanini. 

27.  The project is in the preliminary design phase.  The designation for the land required to develop the project was notified in December 2014. A hearing on the designation and related earth works consent is expected to be held during June 2015. 

Other major stormwater projects

28.  In addition to the capital works projects described above council is also working on a number of other major projects to improve our stormwater management. These are described below:

Collaboration with Watercare and Auckland Transport 

29.  Council actively collaborates with Watercare and Auckland Transport on joint stormwater projects. A number of opportunities for future collaboration are being investigated and reviewed, including but not limited to:

·     Central Interceptor Catchments – reviewing opportunities to optimise investment

·     Okahu Bay Separation – detailed design underway

·     Picton Street  and Angelsea Street Separation, Rehabilitation and Flood mitigation works – design underway

·     Franklin Road Upgrade and Separation – investigation underway

·     Castle Street to Fife Street Stormwater Extension – project plan under development

Special Housing Areas (SHAs)

30.  The Stormwater Special Housing Area team continues to support The Housing Project Office (HPO) to deliver the housing targets of the Auckland Housing Accord.

31.  The Stormwater Management Plans (SMPs) for key SHAs such as Scotts Point, Belmont, Huapai, Whenuapai and Karaka Lakes South are all substantially complete and are in the final stages of review.  The SMPs have required substantial collaborative effort between council staff, Auckland Transport, private developers and their consultants. In addition, the Whenuapai Plan change hearing was held in December.

32.  Detailed negotiations are underway to agree on interim arrangements for stormwater solutions, allowing developers to proceed, prior to final infrastructure being completed in Huapai, Takanini and Tamaki. Council is also continuing to progress the design of stormwater solutions in other SHAs in New Lynn, Tamaki North, Takanini and Okahu Bay.

33.  As part of the collaborative approach undertaken by the SHA office, stormwater officers are actively working with mana whenua on the development of stormwater management designs for SHAs, the most recent examples being the Hingaia Peninsula and Belmont SHAs.

34.  Council’s water sensitive approach to these developments, aimed at protecting streams and floodplains and providing on-site treatment for contaminants and the protection of stream baseflow, is strongly supported by iwi.  As a result, iwi and the council have been working together with the developers on designing water sensitive stormwater solutions for SHAs.

Public Safety and Stormwater

35.     The management and operation of a public stormwater system provides for stormwater management but it can also create risks to human health, safety and welfare.  It is important to consider these risks because most of council’s publicly owned stormwater assets are located in areas that are accessible to the public. Stormwater assets can be a risk to the public at any time, not just during storms and flood events.

36.     As part of managing this public safety risk a draft operations and planning policy on public safety in the vicinity of public stormwater assets has been developed. The key purpose of this policy is to introduce a risk assessment process that provides appropriate prompts to identify and prioritise assets that require safety improvements.

37.     It is important to note that while the risks of harm from publicly owned stormwater assets cannot be entirely eliminated, the intention is to achieve a level of public safety which is both acceptable and affordable to the community.

38.     The key elements of council’s stormwater safety programme are:

·     A high level stormwater safety strategy

·     A risk assessment tool for quantifying risk associated with stormwater assets

·     Application of the risk assessment tool to identify high risk assets

·     Implementation of risk reduction initiatives to strike the optimum balance between the assessed risk and the available budget

·     Regular review, updating and re-prioritisation of the risk assessment process

·     Monitoring and reporting outcomes to council’s health and safety team.

Stormwater Bylaw

39.     The proposed Stormwater Bylaw was notified on 8 September 2014 and written and oral submissions were received over the next two months.

40.     The submissions have been reviewed and analysed and council officers are currently working on recommendations to the Stormwater Bylaw Hearings Panel regarding potential amendments to the bylaw following a submitter’s workshop.

41.     A workshop with submitters to discuss possible changes to the bylaw and concerns outlined in the submissions and at the hearing is to be held on Wednesday 4 March 2015. 

42.     The Deliberations Meeting of the Stormwater Bylaw Hearings Panel will be held following the Stormwater Submitter Workshop, in April 2015.

Stormwater Asset Management Plan

43.     Stormwater has now completed the draft 2015-45 Stormwater Asset Management Plan (STWAMP). This outlines how council plans to manage its stormwater assets over the next 30 years.

44.     The STWAMP has now been notified to the public for submissions as part of the Long-term Plan consultation process. It will be finalised and adopted by council in June 2015.


Engaging with Mana Whenua and Improving Maori Responsiveness

45.     Council routinely engages with iwi on stormwater issues at a range of operational levels. Table One below provides a summary of the level of consultation undertaken on stormwater projects since October 2014.

Table One: Consultations between stormwater and mana whenua over update period

 

Number of projects that triggered Cultural Impact Assessments (CIAs)

Number of information letters sent to iwi/hapū authorities about stormwater  projects

Number of iwi/hapū authorities responding and requesting further information or a site visit.

Number of Cultural Impact Assessments (CIA) completed

Number of physical works projects with Cultural Monitoring

22

247

86

9

2

 

46.     Council is also working with specific iwi on the design of some key infrastructure projects. These include:

·     Consultation with Makaurau Marae and Ngati Whatua Orakei on the design of infrastructure mitigation projects aimed at enhancing the waterways within their respective rohe.

·     Extensive consultation with Makaurau Marae on possible infrastructure solutions to capture contaminants and future spills from the industrial areas discharging to the Oruarangi Creek. 

·     Ongoing discussions on a feasibility assessment for daylighting a stream at Okahu Bay with Ngati Whatua Orakei.

47.     In addition to project specific engagement, officers have initiated one-to-one meetings with iwi focusing on how council’s stormwater unit can strengthen its relationship with each group individually.  Individual invitations were sent to all 19 iwi authorities. Twelve meetings have been undertaken so far and another two will soon be held. All meetings were useful for both mana whenua and council officers as a starting point for understanding each other’s activities and priorities. Actions to strengthen the relationship were identified and regular follow-up meetings are planned to be scheduled in the coming year.

48.     Officers are also reviewing council’s consultation process on stormwater projects as a means of streamlining engagement, as many mana whenua have raised this as an important issue in the one-to-one meetings described above.

Consideration

Local Board Views and Implications

49.     The stormwater unit provides local boards with quarterly updates on their work programme. Council officers also work closely with local boards on stormwater issues and projects within their local board areas. For example, a member of Puketapapa Local Board has been appointed to the Project Steering Group for the Oakley Stream project described above. Albert-Eden and Whau Local Boards have also been invited to attend briefings on the project.

Maori Impact Statement

50.     Stormwater and environmental management have integral links with the mauri of the environment and concepts of kaitiakitanga.

51.     As described above, council recognises the significance of stormwater management to mana whenua and engages with them frequently on stormwater issues. Actions are also being put in place to improve council’s engagement with mana whenua in this area.

General

Implementation Issues

52.     There are no implementation issues arising from this report.

 

Attachments

No.

Title

Page

aView

Wynyard Quarter Required Reticulation

17

     

Signatories

Authors

Craig McIlroy, Manager Stormwater

Authorisers

John Dragicevich - Manager Infrastructure and Environmental Services

Dean Kimpton - Chief Operating Officer

 


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

PDF Creator


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

Update from Watercare Services Ltd

 

File No.: CP2014/29758

 

Purpose

1.       Tim Munro, Manager - Major Projects of Watercare Services Ltd has provided a written report covering capital projects in progress (Attachment A) during January and February 2015, to which he will speak to at the meeting.

2.       Also included is a document introducing residential per capita water use in Auckland per local board area (Attachment B), following a request expressed at the December Infrastructure committee meeting.

Recommendation/s

That the Infrastructure Committee:

a)      thank the Manager, Major Projects of Watercare Services Ltd for his presentation on capital projects in progress.

 

 

Attachments

No.

Title

Page

aView

Watercare Services Limited report for January & February 2015

21

bView

Domestic per capita consumption per local board

27

     

Signatories

Authors

Barbara Watson - Democracy Advisor

Authorisers

Dean Kimpton - Chief Operating Officer

 


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

PDF Creator


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

Light Rail 2015 Conference, Sydney, Australia

 

File No.: CP2015/04334

 

Purpose

1.       To update members on latest developments in light rail presented at the Australasian Railway Association conference held in March 2015.

Executive Summary

2.       The chair of the committee will share information and insights from the conference and how these could be relevant to Auckland, give recent announcements by Auckland Transport.  A selection of keynote presentations to the conference is available in a separate attachment.  Other papers can be downloaded on request.

Recommendation/s

That the Infrastructure Committee:

a)      receive the report by the Chair.

Comments

3.       Auckland Transport’s recent announcement that it was investigating adopting a Light Rail solution for Auckland as part of the City Centre Future Access Study, in the draft Regional Land Transport Strategy made my attendance at the recent ‘Light Rail 2015’, conference in Sydney timely and worthwhile.

4.       Organised by the Australasian Railway Association, the conference was held in Sydney on 5th and 6th March.  Two other directors from Auckland Transport, Ian Parton and Rabin Rabindran attended along with CEO David Warburton and managers Pete Clark and Steve Hawkins.

5.       The conference prospectus is attached (Attachment A) along with key papers (under separate cover due to their volume - I have included only a sample of the best presentations).  Others can be downloaded on request.  Please find attached the papers from the following presenters.

6.       Sandrine Gaubert. Network Strategy Development Manager, Keolis Downer.  Learning from the success of light rail in Europe.

7.       Andy Byford CEO, Torotonto Transit.  Investing in light rail: a key element in the top to bottom modernisation of Toronto’s transit system.

8.       Brian Brennan MD, Transdev Dublin. LUAS. From strength to strength – Light Rail in Dublin.

9.       Jeff Goodling, Project Director, Sydney Light rail.  Transport for NSW. Delivering the Sydney Light Rail Project.

10.     Clément Michel, CEO, Yarra Trams. Melbourne. Challenges of efficient network operations on the world’s largest and oldest light rail system.

The papers speak for themselves, but the key insights I took away from the conference are as follows:

i)        Auckland’s position is not unique. The world-wide revolution in urban mass transit which occurred 60 years ago, that saw light rail, (electric trams) replaced by diesel buses is now happening again but this time buses in inner cities are giving way to modern high-tech light rail vehicles.  This is happening in small to large cities across Europe, North America and Asia.

ii)       Electric light rail is more efficient as well as more economical to run than buses.  As it carries more people, it is passenger and revenue rich.  Remarkably this means ongoing operations, unlike buses and commuter rail, do not generally need local government subsidies (though of course building the system certainly does). This heavy patronage (low-margin, high-turnover model) was of course a feature of the historic tram systems.  Because of this all the NZ tram systems in the 20th century were unsubsidised and indeed ran at a modest profit.  In regard to the Auckland tramway, most people are aware that when it was terminated in 1956, it was carrying over 80 million passengers a year. At that stage Auckland’s population was around 300,000 people.  After the trams were withdrawn PT patronage in Auckland collapsed and despite the population being near 1.5 million, PT in Auckland has yet to fully recover. What is not as well known however, is that in its first year of service in 1904, the Auckland Electric Tramways Co Ltd carried over 13 million trips per year (which is more than Auckland’s current train patronage). This at a time when Auckland’s population was only 70,000 people.  The company made a net profit of Ł20,823.00 in its first year and this increased modestly with patronage growth over the years. 

iii)      Trams or Light Rail?  This question was raised by one speaker, Jeff Goodling of Sydney Light Rail.  He argued that light rail was different from trams or ‘street cars’.  He was looking at the way Sydney is planning its system which is more like a dedicated commuter rail system.  It struck me, that perhaps he was missing the point.  The strength of light rail is its flexibility in the way it can operated.  Running through inner cities, sharing the road with cars, buses and pedestrians, and then running through the suburbs, often on dedicated tracks, more like a train. Mr Goodlings views were not necessarily shared by the other speakers who used the term ‘light rail’ and ‘trams’ interchangeably.  In fact I noticed that the people from jurisdictions planning to acquire light rail generally referred to it as ‘light rail’, while the people who already operated light rail invariably referred to it as ‘trams’ (see attached presentation papers).

iv)      The private sector lobbying (from the oil/motor interests) that saw the removal of the trams in the mid-1950s, is again a factor in the world-wide light rail revival.  This time from international operating and infrastructure companies, which see light rail as mutually profitable for both cities (in terms of city building and transport solutions) and their shareholders.

v)      This innate ‘bankability’ also makes start-ups financially feasible.  If Auckland were to adopt light rail we would need to ensure that the financial efficiencies to be gained from expected high patronage and low cost operations are not cancelled out by gold-plated capital expenditure, a particular danger in New Zealand’s monopolistic construction environment.

11.     Peter Clark, General Manager - Strategy & Planning, Auckland Transport will be making a PowerPoint presentation to the committee on the conference.

Attachments

No.

Title

Page

aView

Light Rail 2015 Conference prospectus

31

B

Due to their size and complexity, the attachments are available under separate cover

 

Signatories

Author

Michael Lee – Chairman, Infrastructure Committee

Authorisers

Dean Kimpton - Chief Operating Officer

 


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

Information Items

 

File No.: CP2014/29754

 

Purpose

1.       The Chair of the Infrastructure Committee requested the attached items of interest be included in the agenda, for information purposes only.

 

Recommendation/s

That the Infrastructure Committee:

a)      receive the information.

 

 

Attachments

No.

Title

Page

aView

Auckland Transport Statistics Report - January 2015

37

bView

Auckland Transport Monthly Indicators Report - February 2015

65

      

Signatories

Authors

Barbara Watson - Democracy Advisor

Authorisers

Dean Kimpton - Chief Operating Officer

 


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


Infrastructure Committee

25 March 2015

 

PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator


PDF Creator