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Motueka Transportation Study

Overview

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and Tasman District Council are undertaking a joint strategic transportation study of Motueka in order to develop a long-term sustainable transport strategy that is integrated with TDC's long-term land use planning for Motueka. The study area includes the transport network of Motueka township and State Highway 60 between Moutere Inlet Bridge and the Motueka River Bridge.

History

There is a history of previous transport studies within the area.

• The National Roads Board SH60 Strategic Plan published in the 1980s looked at State Highway 60 section by section, identify issues with the network and potential improvements that could be made. In retrospect, it is not clear what if any improvements were made as a result of this report.
• In 1991 the Ministry of Works produced a Motueka Bypass Scoping Report, which concluded that on the basis of planning and engineering investigations and on the assumption that in the long term there will only be one bridge across the Motueka River which must serve both local and through traffic, that a Motueka bypass was both desirable and viable, with a preferred alignment along Queen Victoria Street in Motueka and bypassing Riwaka.
• One year later, another investigation report followed on from the previous one and was undertaken to take account of the government providing added emphasis and higher costs place on road accidents. The report concluded that in light of the new crash economics, the Chamberlain Street option provided greater accident benefits because it has less new road and fewer intersections in comparison with the Queen Victoria Street option.
• In 1993, a Motueka Bypass Technical Review was published, with the prime purpose being to undertake an assessment of the Motueka Bridge in light of the possibility of constructing a new bridge as part of a bypass. The report found that the bridge is at the end of its functional life as the state highway link over the Motueka River. However, while limited for state highway usage and in need of substantial maintenance overhaul, it has reasonable structural soundness and could therefore provide useful service for many years as a light usage bridge.
• Then in 1994, another comprehensive study recommended that the Chamberlain Street bypass option be taken forward as the future alignment for SH60 through Motueka and Riwaka. It added that if this option was rejected for economic reasons, Transit NZ would need to consider alternative measures to resolve the remaining traffic and environmental problems on these sections of SH60.
  
  This large assessment made several conclusions. Some interesting ones include:
  • Neither the bridge repair option nor the bridge replacement option minimise SH60 conflicts in the Motueka township
  • Although bridge replacement and bridge repair options would cause the least overall environmental effects, they resolve fewer highway traffic and environmental problems
  • The Chamberlain Street option requires high capital cost drainage modifications in the Riwaka catchment
  • The Chamberlain Street option provides best for the long-term strategic urban development of Motueka and Riwaka
  • Both bypass options face strong opposition from affected parties along the routes
  • There is a strong case for retaining the existing Motueka Bridge for use by local traffic and active modes
  • It is important that the decision on the future alignment and bridge location is implemented as soon as possible so that the social effects do not persist indefinitely
  • If the bridge repair option is selected, the existing bridge could be expected to last some 20 to 25 years. During that time the economics for either bypass option are unlikely to be sufficient to justify construction
  • Despite the results of the economic analysis, Transit NZ will need to consider the desirability of strengthening a bridge which is over 64 years old, susceptible to 100-year floods and earthquakes, is on a poor alignment, and will continue to provide a substandard cross-section of 5.5m between kerbs.
• In 1997 the Motueka Traffic Study was undertaken due to growing council and community concern regarding traffic flows through the Motueka town centre following Transit NZ carrying out repairs to the Motueka Bridge, thus extending the bridge's lifespan. The study indicated that there was a need for traffic management measures to be further investigated and implemented in the Motueka town centre to alleviate identified traffic congestion, safety and circulation issues.
• We jump then to 2008 for a report called Motueka and Environs Industrial and Commercial Land Assessment. This set out demographic forecasts for the Motueka area and associated needs for industrial, commercial and residential land. The report states that one of TDC's objectives was to consolidate the urban form of Motueka.
• In 2009, TDC indicated planning was underway for substantial growth in Motueka. Wahanga Ltd, the owners of a large parcel of land to the west of High Street between Whakarewa Street and King Edward Street out to the Aerodrome, were proposing a long-term development plan (at least 50 years) to include a mix of residential, commercial and industrial land use. The development plan (now called the Motueka Central and West Structure Plan) was likely to take the form of a Council Plan Change sometime in 2009. The substantial size of the structure plan area will create a significant additional demand for movement of people and vehicles within Motueka. An integrated land use and transport strategy was required to provide a sustainable growth.
  
  This had led to a document called the Draft Terms of Reference, published in May 2009. The study it guided was a technical modelling report with advice sought from key stakeholders. It was not a report for consultation but was a fact-based report to inform NZTA who 'own' High Street and who are doing, and paying for (ie not rate funded), the work to assist them with their decision-making.

Current status:

David Ogilvie attended the Council meeting (29 April) when the Motueka Transportation Study was presented by Gary Clark. He said the Mayor and Councillors appeared happy with the comprehensive document (280 pages), highlighting both positive and negative points.

He said it seems there won’t be any public consultation, although the Mayor suggested a public meeting in Motueka conducted by NZTA/TDC to present it locally. David will endeavour to report more fully in June 2010.

David believes it is important now to progress the Central and West Motueka Structure Plan, with Rose Biss and Steve Markham setting a schedule for meetings, consultation and a final plan for the variation stage of the Council’s Resource Management Plan. Hopefully this will be achieved by May-June 2011. This will be a year late from the initial schedule, but the Transportation Study was a year late in its completion.

The Transportation Plan was published around May 10th. It's findings and recommendations were summarised in an article on Motueka Online here »

The Motueka Transportaton Study was jointly funded by Tasman District Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency. The study looked at the issues surrounding the congestion that occurs during the summer months along High Street through the Motueka township.

The report considers possible intersection improvements to relieve both safety and congestion issues. The Motueka West Plan change was a driver for understanding the traffic implications of the increased intensity of land use in this area. The complete document (warning: it's a 21-megabyte PDF file) was published in August on TDC's website, and can be viewed here »

On November 30 a public meeting was held to learn about the town bypass issue and to hear from residents about their preferred options. A report of the discussion can be viewed here »
And a discussion forum thread was begun here »

[Last updated: 2 December 2010]