This page outlines the role and work of the Freight & Network Efficiency Working Group. It describes the remit of the group and the type of activities that it undertakes to protect and enhance the functioning of the freight task in the Canterbury region.
The development of a regional freight strategy was identified as a priority in the Canterbury Regional Land Transport Strategy (RLTS) 2002-2007. During 2002-2003 a series of consultations with freight stakeholders resulted in the creation of the Canterbury Freight Action Plan, which is an integral part of the RLTS.
Working Group overview
As part of the restructuring process for the Regional Transport Committee (RTC), following changes made to government legislation in 2008, the new RTC has taken the opportunity to review the role and make-up of the working groups that report to it on specific issues.
The former Canterbury Freight Working Group (FWG) has been given an extended remit – to encompass network efficiency issues, as well as multi-modal freight matters.
Membership of the group comprises the economic development representative of the RTC (to be the chair), with other members representing the road, rail and sea freight sectors, general road users, the New Zealand Transport Agency and the Ministry of Transport. In addition to the core group, any other persons as required and invited may participate.
The Canterbury Freight Action Plan
Freight Action Plan (pdf 800 kB)
Canterbury Regional Transport Strategy (pdf 1.21 MB)
The Freight Action Plan was developed to recognise the importance of freight transport to the economic health of the region. It identifies the region's freight issues, sets out a series of actions to address these issues and establishes a working group to implement the plan. The action plan is a component of the Canterbury Regional Land Transport Strategy.
The plan sets out a series of action under the following set of objectives:
- Protect the operation of and access to key freight transport hubs
- Define and protect the operation of and access to the strategic freight network
- Reduce heavy traffic impacts on local communities
- Improve freight access provisions to commercial areas
- Provide suitable route provisions and arrangements for over-dimension, over-weight loads and hazardous goods
- Respond to tighter security requirements for international freight transport
- Develop suitable risk management strategies for natural hazard events
- Seek continuous improvement and best practice in freight operations and logistics
- To ensure Canterbury receives a fair share of national level transport funding
- Identify regional freight transport investment priorities
Working Group functions
- Provide advice and recommendations to the RTC on developing and implementing the road and freight components of the RLTS and its Freight Action Plan
- Advise on multi-modal freight and road related investment and maintenance priorities
- Identify ongoing threats and opportunities to the road and freight outcomes desired in the region, and recommend appropriate responses to the RTC
- Ensure that the Canterbury Freight Action Plan remains relevant (via amendments as required) to national objectives impacting the freight sector
- Provide a forum for liaison with key stakeholders across the region
- Assist in co-ordinating the action of parties on collaborative efforts (when required)
- Oversee the monitoring of progress on implementing the road and multi-modal freight components of the RLTS and its Freight Action Plan
- Provide a report to each RTC updating the committee on the group’s activities
- Provide advice and input to the RLTP as it relates to the freight network.
Initiatives
Design Guide (pdf 411 kB) – An on-site design guide for handling freight. This document is intended to act as a best practice check-list for industry professionals (planners, engineers and architects) when they are considering new developments / redevelopments of sites that require freight handling facilities. It contains analysis of key considerations and provides guidance and pointers to other source documents that can be accessed to provide more comprehensive coverage of specific design issues.
Submissions
From time to time, the Freight & Network Efficiency Working Group prepares submissions on proposed policy initiatives and specific projects. These submissions are generally concerned with the need to consider the requirements and imperatives of the freight transport industry, as outlined in the groups’ remit from the RLTC.
- Bus Priority Measures Consultation - Papanui Road / Main North Road Bus Priority Route, Queenspark Bus Priority Route & Colombo St/City South Bus Priority Route - A submission outlining the need for the proposed bus priority measures on these three corridors to be appropriately designed to consider the needs and requirements of the freight transport industry.
- Christchurch City District Plan – Variation 86 – Retail Distribution - A submission proposing amendments to this variation to the Christchurch City District Plan to ensure that it adequately recognised the requirement to service retail development(s) or business retail parks.
- LTCCP Considerations - A series of submissions to territorial authorities indicating the key freight related issues that the Working Group would wish them to consider during the preparation of their Long Term Council Community Plan.
- Whiteleigh Avenue – Traffic Safety - A submission to Christchurch City Council in respect of potential conflict between heavy goods vehicles and cyclists on this route, if the proposed cycle lanes were introduced.
Research
The Freight & Network Efficiency Working Group commissions research projects that advance understanding of operator best practice, improvements in freight industry operations and identify regional freight transport investment initiatives.
The Freight & Network Efficiency Working Group commissions research projects that advance understanding of operator best practice, improvements in freight industry operations and identify regional freight transport investment initiatives.
Best Practice in Freight Transport Operations (pdf 715 kB)
In 2009, the Regional Land Transport team commissioned a piece of research to gain a better understanding of the Canterbury specific issues that the National Freight Demands Study (2008) raised. The full report from this research, together with its Executive Summary can be found on the following links:
Rail and Coastal Shipping Potential in Canterbury - Final Report - June 2009 (pdf 2.30 MB)
Rail and Coastal Shipping Potential in Canterbury - Executive Summary - June 2009 (pdf 1.08 MB)