Open Letter | Bus QT-WAN
Dear Otago Regional Councillors,
As members of New Zealand’s outdoor community, we are writing to ask you, the elected leaders of our region, to implement a public transport connection between Queenstown and Wanaka.
Winter is vital to our district’s economy, community, and identity. However, climate change threatens this way of life. Projections indicate Otago’s annual average temperatures could rise by 2.8°C, with up to 27% more winter rainfall in Queenstown, according to the Otago Climate Risk Assessment.
Transport emissions, which make up 47% of the Queenstown Lakes District’s total emissions, are a key contributor. This is far higher than the national average of 17%. Addressing these emissions is critical to preserving our environment and economy. As local leaders it’s your responsibility to use this information to ensure we avoid the worst effects of climate change. We need your commitment to protect our continued prosperity.
Transport emissions are comparatively easy to beat – the simple answer is to improve public transit options in our district. Home to a quarter of Otago’s population, the Queenstown Lakes area currently lacks sufficient options. Local residents, visitors, and businesses want to see a public transport connection between Queenstown and Wānaka.
An electric bus service over the Crown Range would provide benefits for all: locals seeking a cleaner commute, tourists wanting safer travel between key destinations, young people needing independence, and older or injured residents unable to drive. This service would reduce congestion, cut emissions, improve access to key attractions and enhance the district’s reputation as a world-class, sustainable destination.
We need you to honour your commitments…
The ORC’s draft Strategic Climate Action Plan, climate mitigation goal 1.2 is ‘to operate low-emissions, efficient and affordable public transport services that are widely used by Otago people and visitors’. An electric bus between Queenstown and Wānaka should be a key component of this goal and directly supports the following actions listed in the transport section:
- Provide efficient, reliable and accessible public transport services to meet community needs.
- Decarbonise the public transport fleet.
- Collaborate with Otago’s city and district councils to reduce car use and encourage public transport uptake
- Develop and implement a public and active transport connectivity strategy
While rush hour traffic in Queenstown and Wānaka continues to build to unmanageable levels, other New Zealand districts are reducing emissions and congestion through the prioritisation of public transport. You’ve already made this commitment for electric public transport in Dunedin, and we can’t afford for Queenstown Lakes to be left out. Our environment, economy, reputation as a world-class destination, and the thousands of workers on our ski fields and in our winter industries depend on your action.
The support within the community for this improvement is already clear. The QLDC Quality of Life Survey showed that 82% of residents are concerned or very concerned about climate change. And an additional survey conducted by POW (with 150+ participants) found that 100% of respondents wanted public transport between Queenstown and Wānaka.
The ORC’s next transport plan is due soon – let’s make sure that an electric bus connecting Queenstown and Wānaka over the Crown Range is part of it.
Sincerely,
Everyone who loves and needs winter.
If you’re a local business who would like to show their support. You can download this Open Letter ORC and return it to us via email (marian@protectourwinters.nz).