Queenstown Public Transport Business Case
On this page (jump to):
What is the project?
Why is this project needed now?
Geographical area
Alignment with other work
The next steps
Have your say (Drop-in events and online feedback)
Contact us
What is the project?
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing areas, driven by growth in population, the tourism industry and supporting activities. This growth is placing increasing pressure on infrastructure and services, and in particular, the transport system.
With traffic back at pre-Covid levels in 2023, Otago Regional Council (ORC) and its Way to Go partner agencies — Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency — are developing a 30-year plan, known as the Queenstown Public Transport Business Case. This plan will inform future public transport investment decisions for Queenstown to provide more travel choices.
This engagement is specifically focused on the area's future public transport investment decisions over the next 15 years by looking closely at buses and ferries and how we can best use them. It links with work on spatial planning, infrastructure, roads and other transport issues, and aligns with Outcome 3 of the Queenstown Lakes Spatial Plan to create a resilient, sustainable and safe transport network where public transport, walking, and cycling are everyone’s first transport choice. It also links to active travel options like cycling or walking through the Whakatipu Active Travel Network, providing a network of walking and cycle trails linked to public transport.
The Queenstown Public Transport Business Case will focuses on:
- What the public transport network will look like in the future (bus and ferry)
- How to decarbonise public transport
- Where on-demand bus services should be considered
- Future capacity and configuration of bus hubs in Queenstown Town Centre and Frankton
- What the future ownership, operating, and management systems should look like
- What the proposals might cost and how they could be funded
Why is this project needed now?
Three years ago we completed the Queenstown Business Case making a compelling argument for a big shift away from driving cars and more towards public transport, walking and cycling. We wanted to give residents and visitors real travel choices and alternatives to driving in an increasingly congested network.
Following Covid and nation-wide bus driver shortages, full timetables only resumed in June 2023. Bus patronage is now tracking at around 85% of pre-pandemic levels, while ferry patronage has nearly doubled since 2020 (during the pandemic), showing that residents and visitors are once again choosing to use buses and ferries to get around.
Supported by committed investments in infrastructure through Waka Kotahi's NZ Upgrade Programme, we have an opportunity to improve public transport and shape how it will best serve Queenstown to support its anticipated growth.
Figure 1 — Peak population growth (Source: Queenstown Lakes Spatial Plan, July 2021).
Figure 2 — One third of visitors to the region arrive via the airport, with two thirds of visitors arriving by road. Total passenger movements are projected to increase on a 3.2% compound annual growth rate between the 10 years from 2022 to 2032.
A number of infrastructure improvements are already underway in Queenstown, including the Town Centre Arterial Road (Stage 1) and detailed planning for the New Zealand Upgrade Programme.
The Whakatipu Active Travel Network aims to provide an integrated network of trails for walking and cycling, connecting to the public transport network to provide alternative travel choices.
Geographical area
The geographical area is shown on the map below. It will consider the existing public transport network and services that intersect with the Whakatipu Basin including Glenorchy, Kingston and Cromwell.
It will not cover the planning for a public transport system outside the Whakatipu area which will be covered through other future plans and studies.
Figure 3 — map showing the geographical area the business case covers.
Alignment with other work
The Grow Well Queenstown Lakes Spatial Plan sets out a vision for how and where the Queenstown Lakes District will grow, looking out to 2050. It includes a number of strategies that focus on creating a resilient, sustainable and safe transport network where public transport, walking and cycling is an attractive transport choice.
Our work to plan for future investment in public transport is important to ensure the area ‘grows well’ into the future and the ORC is committed to playing its part to deliver that vision.
The transport business case will explore options for making public transport carbon zero to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, in line with the New Zealand Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan. However, decarbonisation is not the only way to reduce emissions. Making public transport a convenient and attractive option for more people will also make a significant impact.
New Zealand Government Emissions Reduction Plan
Development of a strategy towards a comprehensive and convenient, enjoyable, and reliable public transport service is one of the major drivers to reducing emissions and will be explored.
Have your say
There were four drop-in events held in the Queenstown area where you can learn more about the business case and chat with the teams from Otago Regional Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Past drop-in events
Saturday, 30 September
9am-2pm | The Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce, Level 3 Bradley Building, 19 Rees St, Queenstown CBD.
Thursday, 21 September
10am-2.30pm | Queenstown Events Centre, Mezzanine Meeting Room (upstairs on the right) at 33 Joe O’Connell Drive, Frankton
4pm-6pm | Stanley St Bus Hub, in front of the playcentre building
Saturday, 23 September (CANCELLED due to weather events)
10am-2pm | Arrowtown Community Centre, Centennial Ave
Online feedback was available as well.
The next steps
Your feedback will help us shape a final report. This is a critical stage in making decisions that will affect transport in Queenstown for years to come.
Following the feedback period between 18 September and 9 October, we expect to provide a summary of what you told us in November 2023.
Final decisions will be made in early 2024.
Contact us
If you would like more information about the Queenstown Public Transport Business Case, email: queenstown.ptp@orc.govt.nz
