Dear Otago Regional Council,

Numerous reports have identified a direct bus between Queenstown and Lake Hayes Estate/Shotover Country is a necessary service to help manage traffic congestion on SH6 & 6A. It has also been widely expressed by the community and it's representatives how important this service is.

http://www.scene.co.nz/queenstown-news/b...

This service was suggested to ORC when it requested feedback before bus routes were implemented and after the routes were put in place. It is simple to implement and achieves your policy statement for transport that promotes and encourages the sustainable management of Otago’s transport network through:
• Promoting the use of fuel efficient modes of transport
• Encouraging a reduction in the use of fuels which produce emissions harmful to the environment • Promoting a safer transport system
• Promoting the protection of transport infrastructure from the adverse effects of land use activities and natural hazards.

Please identify what plans are in place to get this service running, what constraints have prevented this from already being implemented and by what date ORC will get this service operational?

Yours faithfully,

Matt B

Dear James Gribble,

https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown...

With regards to the above article, please advise the following:
- Has an assessment been done on the operational efficiency of an express service to destinations beyond the Frankton Hub? (ie. only stopping at it's final destination or key nodes). If not, please advise why an assessment on user efficiency has not been done.
- Frankton Road to Frankton Hub is already well serviced by the current bus system. If there are sufficient passengers to fill buses between LHE/SC and Queenstown what operational reason is there to not operate this as an express service?
- Please advise what is preventing a direct service from being implemented now rather than "in the coming months".
- Please provide the report that has informed the decision to review the direct bus service rather transferring buses at the hub.

With regards to the ORC policy statement, please advise what ORC is doing to achieve the following:
"protection of transport infrastructure from the adverse effects of land use activities and natural hazards"

Yours sincerely,

Matt B