Fuel costs may impact Canterbury bus timetable

The number and frequency of buses on the roads of Canterbury could change should fuel costs remain high.

Environment Canterbury is set to discuss the impact of diesel and petrol at a council meeting on Wednesday [May 13].

In a report prepared for the meeting, ECan staff said there had been a noticeable increase in demand for public transport in the last two months

A four percent increase in bus patronage was reported during March, compared to the same month last year.

Rising fuel costs and increased patronage were able to be managed in the short term as the council had established public transport reserves to manage the risk of economic shocks, staff said.

It left the council ‘‘well positioned’’ for the next 12 months, but there were several options available to manage any challenges which arose.

These included more buses on the road and increasing the frequency of buses, or reducing fuel consumption with a targeted reduction in operating hours.

ECan staff also note that rising fuel costs will have an impact across the region, such as rising food production costs and the ability to respond to civil defence emergencies.

The region's draft annual plan was agreed in late February, just before the outbreak of war in Iran.

Submissions then closed on the plan on March 31, with the council holding drop-in sessions last week, instead of the usual hearings.

The less formal approach was taken because there are no significant changes in the annual plan, from what was signalled in the 2024/34 Long Term Plan.

Council staff said there were 14 ‘‘Cuppa & Kōrero’’ sessions held including 11 in person and three online sessions, with 35 members of the public attending.

‘‘The initial response and feedback has been positive, with many saying the informal format was appreciated and provided a good opportunity to discuss topics and issues with councillors, rather than a formal presentation that has a time limit.’’

A wide range of topics were discussed, including public transport (including rail), flooding, funding, wetlands, water quality, braided rivers, air quality and odour and local water leadership groups.
Councillors will consider the feedback when they resume their deliberations on May 26, ahead of adopting the 2026/27 annual plan on June 24.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.