Our participation in the land use and transport planning process
We work with local government and key stakeholders to identify the best choice of transport systems for their communities, regionally and nationally. We work with others or contribute to the development of the following planning frameworks:
- national policy statements and national environmental standards
- regional land transport strategies
- regional policy statements and regional and district plans
- growth strategies and other strategic planning documents
- long term council community plans
- informal plans such as structure plans prepared by local government
- mode plans (walking and cycling)
- activity management plans
- decisions on plan changes and variations, applications for land use consents and notices of requirement for designations.
We decide on a case-by-case basis whether to submit on proposed plan changes and variations relating to specific developments, resource consent applications and notices of requirement.
Regional policy statements
Regional policy statements establish a council's broad direction and framework for resource management within its region. The statements play a key role under the Resource Management Act 1991 as regional and district plans must include actions to give effect to them. They can also influence regional land transport strategies and regional growth strategies.
Regional plans
These plans help the council carry out its Resource Management Act functions and can cover:
- soil conservation
- water quality and quantity
- aquatic ecosystems
- biodiversity
- natural hazards
- hazardous substances
- discharge of contaminants
- allocation of natural resources.
Long Term Plans (LTPs )
Councils produce Long Term Plans (LTPs) every three years. These plans set out a council's priorities for the coming decade based on goals agreed with its community, including for transport activities. The council must set out its plans in detail for the first three years and in summary for the following seven. The Long Term Plans show when the council plans to implement each project, what the project will achieve and how the council proposes to fund it.
Learn more about local government planning through Local Government New Zealand's website.
Growth strategies and plans
While not required under legislation (except for Auckland), councils are increasingly using growth strategies and plans to co-ordinate land use, infrastructure and financial needs.
Regional councils can implement growth strategies through:
- regional policy statements, which can direct city and district council activities to ensure consistency and integration across a region
- resource management provisions.
Regional land transport strategies
These high-level plans provide a strategic link between transport activities at a national level and those at a local level (as set out in regional land transport programmes). Regional councils, through regional transport committees, can use these to set out the transport goals for their region.
Learn more about:
- the requirements for regional land transport strategies (external link)
- how we develop strategies and plans that contribute to our National Land Transport Programme (NLTP)
Regional land transport programmes
Regional transport committees prepare these programmes every three years to set out a region's land transport activities. They list the activities regions want included in the NLTP. A region's programmes have to be consistent with:
- the impacts the government wishes to achieve through the allocation of national land transport funds, as set out in the Government policy statement on land transport funding 2012/13-20021/22 (GPS) (external link)
- the Land Transport Management Act 2003
- the regional land transport strategy.
The programmes can include any activity legitimately deliverable by an approved organisation, or by us, and qualifying for funding from the National Land Transport Fund. They are expected to include activities that deliver on the regional strategies and priorities by including the key programmes, packages and activities identified for the region within the activity classes set out in the GPS. 'Activities classes' include:
- new and improved infrastructure for state highways
- renewal of state highways
- maintenance and operation of state highways
- new and improved infrastructure for local roads
- renewal of local roads
- maintenance and operation of local roads
- road policing
- public transport services
- public transport infrastructure
- demand management and community programmes
- walking and cycling facilities
- sector training and research
- domestic sea freight development
- rail and sea freight
- transport planning
- management of the funding allocation system.
District plans
District plans establish council policies and regulations for land use and subdivision, and the environmental effects arising from these activities. The plans set out how councils carry out their functions under the Resource Management Act 1991 as well as guide decisions over new transport activities.
Regional public transport plans
Public transport plans are required by legislation to outline the public transport services provided in the region (both generally and specifically for the transport disadvantaged). The plans must be prepared in consultation with the public and territorial authorities. The plans may also cover services, routes, capacity, frequency, fares and any other matters considered appropriate.
Activity management plans
Activity and asset management planning underpins the delivery of land transport services. Schedule 10 of the Local Government Act sets out the information that local authorities are required to include in LTCCPs. Much of this information will flow out of effective activity management, and may best be documented in activity management plans.
Activity management plans, required under the Local Government Act, provide the framework for councils to recognise, deliver and plan for future service levels, operation of spend, network expansion requirements, funding impacts and capital programmes. Councils can use these plans to align the strategic objectives of their LTCCP to their day-to-day business.
Activity management plans are expected to identify the services and works required for current and future land transport activities and demonstrate:
- how transport demand will be assessed and managed
- how asset condition will be monitored
- what levels of service are being provided
- what standards have to be met
- how asset maintenance, renewal and replacement will be undertaken (including procurement)
- the estimated future costs associated with providing any identified extra capacity needs and replacement and maintenance of existing assets and
- how these land transport activity costs will be met.
Structure plans
Structure planning is a tool for managing the effects and demands of development or redevelopment in an integrated, holistic and orderly way. Structure plans provide a framework to guide the development or redevelopment of a particular area by defining:
- the future development and land use patterns
- areas of open space
- the layout and nature of infrastructure (including transportation links)
- other key features for managing the effects of development.
Road safety action plans
Road safety action plans provide a sense of urgency, focus and commitment to mitigate road safety risks. The plans record agreed local road safety risks, objectives and targets, actions, and monitoring and reviewing processes. Each plan is the result of collaboration by key road safety partners. The plans are the primary mechanism for coordination of education, engineering and enforcement approaches to road safety problems at sub-regional levels.
Demand management strategies and action plans
Demand management strategies bring together a collection of measures used to make best use of the existing network and reduce the demand for travel, particularly by single occupancy vehicles. Demand management strategies are required to be included in regional land transport strategies. Many demand management strategies have action plans which identify how these measures will be achieved.
Walking and cycling strategies and action plans
Many councils have produced walking and cycling strategies. These strategies set out their community’s vision for more cyclist and pedestrian friendly environments. Many of the strategies have action plans, which identify how these aspirations will be achieved.
Find out more about our planning for walking and cycling.
How the policies, plans and programmes fit together
All these policies and plans work together to deliver our transport objectives. Download a diagram of the planning and statutory framework for land use and transport planning to see how they fit together.
