Hearing process delays bus hub
THE planned Dunedin bus hub in Moray Pl has been publicly notified, beginning a public submission and hearing process that will delay the project.
Despite that, Otago Regional Council support services manager Gerard Collings said he still hoped to get the hub in place before Christmas.
The ORC requested a notice of requirement from the Dunedin City Council to allow it to go ahead with the plan for a hub in Great King St, between Moray Pl and St Andrew St.
It would include 10 parking bays for buses, five on each side of the road, and loading zones for businesses.
New, more advanced bus shelters would be provided, and, eventually, ‘‘real time’’ electronic displays showing when buses would arrive.
The hub was a key part of a $3 million transport project.
A city council spokeswoman last month said it would decide whether to notify the notice of requirement.
If it was publicly advertised, there would be a public submission period of 20 working days before hearings were held.
On Saturday, a public notice was placed in the Otago Daily Times calling for submissions.
Mr Collings had expected the bus hub to be operational for September, but yesterday said the submission period and resulting hearings meant that was no longer possible.
He said the beginning of construction at the site would depend on that process.
The ORC would bring in other planned changes to the bus service that were to begin when the bus hub was built.
New contracts are planned to provide extra frequency and more direct and consistent bus routes in September.
Mr Collings said he still hoped to get the hub in place by Christmas.
Documents in the ORC’s notice of requirement said with the exception of parking — the plan will remove parks on the street — the hub would not preclude the normal functioning of the street.
There would be changes to some access points on to Great King St, with, for instance, vehicles leaving the Wilsons/ Farmers car park being able to turn left only, and those using the Countdown car park subject to a leftin and leftoutonly rule.
The submissions period closes on August 18.
david.loughrey@odt.co.nz