Councillor questions cost of Feilding bus

Feilding residents are set to have a muchimproved bus service.

But a regional councillor has asked why Manawatu¯ councillors were keen for the service to be extended yet advocated against a rates increase in the district.

Feilding currently has one bus route, which makes several stops in the town before heading into Palmerston North, but there is not a bus that goes all the way around the town. In some cases, someone living on the east side of Feilding wanting to travel across town would have to catch the bus all the way to Palmerston North, then ride it back to Feilding to get near their destination.

Horizons Regional Council’s passenger transport committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to trial a new around-town service. Transport services manager Rhona Hewitt said the idea came from a range of options whittled down after consultation.

The bus would take in much of the route the commuter one did around Feilding, but also go up Lethbridge St and back down Makino Rd, and travel along East St.

That route was chosen because it went through areas where a lot of elderly lived, Hewitt said. The net cost for the first year would be $35,500, including infrastructure such as signs and road markings, which would drop to $34,000 a year afterwards.

While New Zealand Transport Agency paid some money towards bus services, the rest would be covered by a rate targeted at Feilding ratepayers.

Hilary Humphery Manawatu¯ District councillor

The commuter bus would also get an upgrade at the same time, including onboard wi-fi, two additional services on Saturday and the last service from Palmerston North to Feilding during the week leaving slightly later than the current 6pm.

Manawatu¯ District councillors Hilary Humphery and Heather Gee-taylor both spoke to the committee, urging them to vote for the service.

Humphery said Feilding had wanted a public transport system for years and more than 160 residents had taken part in consultation that largely supported it. Having no bus service put constraints on mobility and freedom, she said. Humphrey said there were limited transport options for young and old people in the town, so the bus made sense. It would also provide cheaper transport than taxis or private cars, which she believed was especially important in the economic environment created by coronavirus.

‘‘I’m slightly perplexed that you think it’s good for us to put up Feilding and Manawatu¯ people’s rates, but not necessarily for you to put up Feilding and Manawatu¯ people’s rates.’’ Humphrey said they froze rates for a year because they had a resilience fund to cover costs, but there was also a time and a place to invest.

‘‘Austerity isn’t the answer. This service is a demand from the community.’’ The route still needs final signoff by the full Horizons council, which next meets on Tuesday.

‘‘Austerity isn’t the answer. This service is a demand from the community.’’