Group says high deprivation justifies public transport on West Coast

The long narrow West Coast region stretching the same distance as between Auckland and Wellington poses practical difficulties for those who can't drive. Photo: West Coast Regional Council/LDR

High rates of social deprivation on the West Coast have been highlighted through a proposed regional public transport plan.

Currently the West Coast has no subsidised public transport apart from the Total Mobility Scheme, administered by the West Coast Regional Council, with the largest town in the region Greymouth losing its provider for that early in 2023.

But wider public transport access is important for health and wellbeing including social connection and economic benefits for the West Coast, Active West Coast (AWC) says.

"Public transport is an essential social enabler for residents," AWC told a hearing into the draft Regional Public Transport Plan.

"The lack of access to an effective public transport system on the West Coast is often highlighted as a barrier to social and economic participation."

The AWC submission, supported by Health Locality Pilot Takiwā Poutini, described "high deprivation" which they believed could be partially addressed through strategic public transport.

While the public transport settings of the new Government Transport Policy statement were uncertain at this stage, large sections of Greymouth such as at Blaketown and Cobden were severely disadvantaged by a lack of accessible transport.

Many of those people paid between 30-39 percent of their income on accommodation alone, Active West Coast coordinator Rosie McGrath said.

The picture was similar in Westport and Northern Buller where low income people spent over a third of their income on rent with little left for basic transport.

"We have some really strong indicators that a public transport system would allow people to live a good life. The lack of transport is a huge issue for lack of social connectivity but also it affects productivity levels."

McGrath said 75 percent of the Buller District lived "in highly deprived communities," based on the Community Compass Quarterly Report of June 2023.

Takiwā Poutini programme manager Vicky Roper said the region was dominated by isolated communities with large sections on a low-income.

It also had a larger proportion of older drivers "reluctant to give up driving" because they had no other option.

"People who live outside the towns are particularly disadvantaged," Roper said.

"We believe that investigation of an effective public transport system is urgent, now. It shouldn't be a desk-top exercise."

According to their submission, the median age in the region of 47.7 years is almost a decade above the national average of 38.4 years.

As of June 2023, almost 24 percent of the West Coast's population was over 65 -- projected to increase to 30 percent by 2043.

McGrath said they agreed with council's intention to seek feedback for 'on-demand' public transport through its 2024-34 Long Term Plan.

But that still "fell short" to actually meet any objective.

"Meeting this action could effectively mean that council pushes out any exploration to investigate to 2033," she said.

"A compelling justification" existed now for the council to investigate options.

McGrath noted anecdotal evidence offered in the draft that the region's population is increasing, despite official projections it will decline in the next 20 years to below the current 32,000.

"It is disappointing that one of the primary decision makers on the West Coast lacks the confidence and/or the vision in the region to not include this increase," McGrath said.

AWC and Takiwā Poutini said there was actually interest from transport operators, with the right settings, for some form of passenger service in the region.

"We understand a public transport system needs to be bespoke. Recently we've been approached by two different parties interested in providing public transport here.

"We support the proposal to investigate a public transport system … it should be given high priority."

West Coast Regional Council chairman Peter Haddock said a public transport initiative had been tried before in the region.

"It failed. I do realise there is a need."

The panel agreed council should be bring the likes of Takiwā Poutini and AWC to the table.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.