The government has released its draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024/25-2033/34. The summary document can be found on the Ministry of Transport website, as well as the full document.

Submissions on the draft GPS close 15 September 2023.

CCNZ will be making a submission. At this stage, we anticipate that our submission will include:

• Acknowledgement of increased funding, and an increased focus on priority projects, maintenance, resilience, safety, emissions reduction, urban development, and integrated freight.
  
  
• A note that maintenance investment is a great way to provide certainty and retain capacity and capability in the industry.
  
  
• A note that consistent investment in rail would mean a growing industry of skilled constructors, well-prepared to service rail projects.
  
  
• Emphasis on how critical it is that there is certainty in the work programme, and promised projects or funding must translate to actual allocated, programmed/scheduled, funded projects. 
  
  
• Acknowledgement of the renewed focus on value for money, innovation, and best practice to achieve good network condition, but:
  -We need to move away from requiring bespoke designs for every project - $m’s wasted.
  -Value for money should not equate to cheapest option – the design and procurement process should
  provide for the best solution.
  -We need a greater emphasis on partnership and collaboration with those who construct and maintain
  the transport network.
  
  
• We see a looming long-term funding issue:
  -Revenue from the National Land Transport Fund is projected to decrease.
  -We need a long-term vision to sustainably fund improvement and maintenance of the country’s
  transport networks in different ways.
  -Excise taxes and road user charges aren't enough to carry the programme, especially not since the
  addition of new transport activity classes
  – we need a workable user-pays system, or to enable investment from external infrastructure funds.
  
  
• It's disappointing that no consideration has been given to private funding, which could bring projects forward and take the pressure off already strained government finances.

If there are other points you think we should include in our submission, please email CCNZ Communications and Advocacy Manager Fraser May at fraser@civilcontractors.co.nz or CCNZ Chief Executive Alan Pollard at alan@civilcontractors.co.nz with your thoughts as soon as possible.

Members are encouraged to make their own submissions at: https://consult.transport.govt.nz/policy/government-policy-statement-on-land-transport-2024/consultation/intro/