Improved transport links sought

Ka¯piti District Council puts submission forward for better public transport for growing O¯ taki community

Lack of public transport links for the O¯ taki community has prompted Ka¯piti District Council to submit ideas to Horizons Regional Council. Ka¯piti Coast Mayor Janet Holborow said the submission acknowledges the steps already taken to improve public transport links to the area while recognising more needs to be done, particularly with the significant growth O¯ taki is experiencing.

“Improved public transport is key to supporting better connections to both housing and employment opportunities as O¯ taki grows. More families and residents will need to get around, and there will be more workers needing access to and from O¯ taki or other nearby centres for work.”

The mayor said better public transport links are also key to improving wellbeing outcomes for residents, as that will enable better access to employment and education in the area for them, and to health services and social support services, most of which are based in the Manawatu area.

“There are people who need access to these essential services who are going without, and their problems are going unresolved. Others have needed to move out of the area, but still require access to Otaki for their study, their children’s schooling and to maintain wha¯nau connections.

She said a lot of work on this is already under way with Horowhenua District Council and Nga Hapuo Otaki, and Horizons Regional Council, Wellington Regional Council and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport

Agency are to identify options to address these concerns.

Some of the options Ka¯piti District Council are keen to explore for O¯ taki include extending existing transport arrangements, shared services across transport agencies and on-demand or community supported services.

This submission was ¯also supported by the chairs of the Otaki and Waikanae community boards.