Transportation is a critical part of our economic, social and cultural wellbeing.Transport choices have major effects on the places we live and our environment. The reduction of carbon emissions is a challenge for the Tasman Environment Plan.

Did you know?

  • The three state highways (SH6, SH60, SH63) that run through towns like Richmond, Motueka and St Arnaud are owned by Waka Kotahi (NZTA). Council has little control over these roads.

Child on bike
  • The transport network may be overloaded by sustained population and economic growth. This constrains access to social and economic opportunities.
  • Current transportation infrastructure makes healthy, safe and sustainable transport choices more difficult.
  • Our network is vulnerable to hazards and threats, which damages the network and causes a loss of access for the community.
  • Vehicle use (primarily cars and trucks, but also aircraft and ships) is contributing to atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic pollution.
  • Increasing use of private helicopters is resulting in a range of adverse effects, including noise impacts, safety risks, and environmental disturbance.
  • Tasman has an emerging and growing maritime transport sector. This sector will need support and policy controls to develop appropriately.
  • Council is interested in your views about whether the number of parks in car parking areas should be capped to support a compact urban form, encourage public transport use and walking and cycling.


Council has a broad programme to deliver facilities and services to support sustainable transportation choices, and to address many of the issues.

The Tasman Environment Plan has a particular role in delivering high level policy and rules and processes for shaping our transportation system. We propose that the new plan:

  • Provides a stronger future-focused set of transportation objectives and policies that support the current challenges and national direction.
  • Adopts “low traffic neighbourhoods” and greenways as design outcomes for urban developments.
  • Adopts policies and rules to support the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities.
  • Introduces policies and rules that support larger businesses and employers to:
    • Develop and report on workplace travel plans,
    • Provide facilities to support active transport modes (for example, showers, lockers and bike stands).
  • Introduces policies and rules to impose tighter controls on helicopter take-off and landing (except for agricultural and horticultural purposes).
  • Introduces policies and rules to support the growing marine transportation industry, and for the protection and sustainable use of the marine environment.