Policy Hindering Integration Of Road And Rail
June 5th, 2008
Poor Govt policy is hindering the ability of the Otago Regional Land Transport Strategy to help integrate rail and road networks. The authors of the strategy’s annual report say the recent decision to transport logs by road from Mt Allan near Dunedin to Port Chalmers illustrates how changes in Govt policy and legislation are needed if rail and road are to be better integrated. This decision was made despite the transport strategy and Dunedin City Council’s transportation strategy wanting to make greater use of rail transport. The basic problem, it says, is railing logs is not economically viable under the Govt’s policy regime.
Subsidy Ineffective. It says the only subsidy available to rail is on backloading, but is limiting as it cannot be spent on capital projects, is limited to three years, and the project has to be self-sustaining within three years. When choosing between rail and road, the strategy says forest owners do not have to take into account such factors as relative levels of emissions, road safety, noise and water pollution. The strategy notes the Govt’s National Rail Strategy and the NZ transport strategy seeks a greater use of rail, yet there is no legislative or funding policy framework capable of delivering the switch to rail freight, and only lip service is given to the concept of transport integration. It wants legislative change to give Councils the power to ensure companies take into consideration the complex mix of social, environmental and economic considerations, are included in plans and transport policies.
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