No Point Looking To Aust For Transport Solutions
September 4th, 2008
NZ has traditionally looked across the Tasman for direction on many things and transport planners also regularly hop across the ditch looking for inspiration and ideas to bring back to NZ. Or at least this may appear to be the outward theory to justify such trips. However, it may also be true if you want to perpetuate the status quo and convince the wider public in NZ we are on the right path, the best option is to go to a country where policies are exactly the same. Aust is hardly world leading in any area of transport planning and infrastructure especially when it comes to energy efficiency and emissions. In fact, Aust performs even more poorly than NZ does in these areas, so looking to Aust is not going to address either of these important issues.
Regional Council Cop Out. The experience of Environment Canterbury is a case in point and reflects the thinking nation-wide. Ecan councillors went on a fact finding tour to Aust to study public transport systems in Aust cities and came back convinced the existing public transport system in Christchurch compares well with those across the Tasman. This is hardly saying very much given most such systems in Aust have suffered from many decades of under-investment and by world standards are not good. Furthermore, most of the cities visited are much bigger than Christchurch. What is the relevance of studying the public transport systems of a city of 3.5m people such as Melbourne to a city of 350,000?
Broader Perspective Needed. The Councillors could have visited cities in Europe of a similar size to Christchurch but didn’t want to. Why? Because this would take them out of their planning and spending priorities comfort zones – less emphasis on road building and much greater emphasis on public transport and cycle infrastructure is the focus in most European cities. The harsh reality is Councillors will have to learn to get out of their comfort zones for the sake of the future affordability of our transportation systems and economic well-being.
Copyright © Media Information Ltd
NZ Transport Intelligence Briefing
Amalgamated Dairies
Strait Shipping