We know that our new and improved eBus service is valued and helps get people around our great District. The public response has been positive, with a good level of patronage and encouraging feedback. We’ve had a lot of feedback asking for this service to be expanded to meet the needs of more people.
Here is what we currently offer:
- Bus services connecting Nelson and Richmond
- New weekday eBus routes to and from Wakefield and Motueka - Wakefield has six return services per day, and Motueka four.
- The Nelson-Richmond route offers regular eBus services every 30 minutes, seven days a week.
- We support three community transport services that service Wakefield, Motueka, and Golden Bay. These support our smaller and rural communities to connect with our larger towns, and complement our eBus services, offering different routes and times and more customizable services for those with specialised transport needs.
These bus services are funded by a combination of subsidies from NZTA, revenue from fares, and rates. Nelson City Council (NCC) and Tasman District Council (TDC) work together on these services, meaning that any future changes need to be coordinated and have joint support.
Our preferred Option A
Maintain existing services and expand Motueka and Wakefield services to weekends
We plan to keep the existing services (with minor network adjustments identified during the 12-month review) and improve regional eBus services by expanding Motueka and Wakefield routes to weekends in 2026. We would make improvements to bus stop infrastructure and enhance information/wayfinding features.
The expansion of eBus services for Motueka and Wakefield to weekends is subject to a review of weekday patronage and demand prior to this going ahead.
The rates impact of this option is included in our proposed Plan.
We anticipate receiving NZTA funding of 51% per annum or $13.4 million over 10 years towards the cost of expanding the eBus services to weekends. If NZTA funding is not provided at the anticipated level, we would not proceed with the extension of services to weekends.
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
| Regular regional services similar to those on weekdays at weekends from 2026 onwards. | No change to Wakefield or Motueka weekend eBus services until 2026. |
| Increased patronage and fewer cars on the road, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions and less congestion. | Higher level of rates to pay for the increased services at weekends. |
| Increased mobility at weekends for those without access to private motor vehicles. | |
| Continued support for community transport services. |
Operational costs (10 years): $26.2 million
Capital costs (10 years): $0
Rates revenue (all types of rates):
Year 1: $1.0 million
Year 2: $1.1 million
Year 3: $1.2 million
Years 4 – 10: $9.5 million
This is equivalent to an average rates cost of $43 (incl GST) per household/business per annum from 2024/2025.
Impact on debt: $0
Effect on levels of service: ↑
Alternative Option B
Increased frequency of services
In this option, the existing services and weekend eBus services to Motueka and Wakefield would be as described in our proposal for Option A. In addition to this, we would be able to increase the frequency of bus services during peak hours to 15 min on the key urban routes from 2029. This would impact the Nelson to Richmond routes within Tasman, but not the Motueka or Wakefield routes.
Areas experiencing urban growth or increased residential or business intensification would also be considered for further public transport services.
Increasing the frequency of eBus services on urban routes is dependent on us securing funding from NZTA of 51% per annum or $7.5 million over 10 years.
If NZTA funding is not provided at the anticipated level, we would not proceed with the increased frequencies.
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
| Convenience of taking public transport would increase and patronage could be expected to grow. | Higher level of rates to pay for the increased frequency of services. |
| Fewer cars on the road, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions and less congestion. | |
| Increased mobility for those without access to private motor vehicles. |
Compared with Option A – Additional rates revenue increase (all types of rates) by:
Year 1: $0
Year 2: $0
Year 3: $0
Years 4 – 10: $7.2 million
This is equivalent to an average rates increase of $55 (incl GST) per household/business per annum from 2029/2030 in addition to Option A.
Impact on debt: $0
Effect on levels of service: ↑
Alternative Option C
Provide existing services only
In this option, existing services would continue the same as now. There would be no expansion of the services for Wakefield or Motueka to weekends, and no increased frequency for the Nelson-Richmond routes.
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
| No increase in the rates required to help fund enhanced bus services. | No regional eBus weekend services provided so no reduction of cars on the road, congestion and greenhouse gas emissions between Richmond and Wakefield or Richmond and Motueka. |
| No increase in the convenience of public transport for Motueka, Māpua and Wakefield. | |
| No improved mobility for those without access to private motor vehicles. |
Compared with Option A – Rates revenue reduction (all types of rates) by:
Year 1: $0 million
Year 2: $0 million
Year 3: $0.2 million
Years 4 – 10: $1.3 million
This is equivalent to an average rates decrease of $7 (incl GST) per household/business per annum from 2024/2025 compared with Option A.
Impact on debt: $0
