Welcome Progress on Public Transport for the Upper Clutha

Community Link is delighted to see positive progress towards a public transport service for the Upper Clutha, with a proposal now on the table that closely reflects community feedback received earlier this year.

A Growing Community Need

For many years, reliable and affordable public transport has been identified as a key community need. As our population grows and more people travel between Lake Hāwea, Albert Town and Wānaka for work, education, shopping and appointments, having accessible transport options becomes increasingly important.

What the Community Told Us

In May, Community Link surveyed local residents about a potential shuttle service between Lake Hāwea and Wānaka. The results showed strong support for public transport, with reliability, travel time and affordability consistently identified as the factors most likely to influence whether people would leave their cars at home. The survey also indicated that fares around $3 to $3.50 would be considered reasonable by regular users.

We shared these findings with Otago Regional Council and have continued to advocate for improved transport options for our community. It is encouraging to see that the service now being proposed closely reflects what local people told us they wanted. The recommended route connecting Lake Hāwea, Albert Town, Three Parks and Wānaka, together with fares of between $2.50 and $3.00, aligns well with community feedback.

Looking Ahead

Importantly, our survey focused on a limited peak-time commuter service. The proposal currently being considered goes considerably further, with eight trips a day, seven days a week. This would provide greater flexibility and accessibility for a wider range of users.

A public transport service would benefit many people across the Upper Clutha, particularly young people, older residents, workers, families looking to reduce transport costs, and those who currently face barriers getting where they need to go.

Community Link welcomes this important step forward and would love to see the service become a reality. We believe it would strengthen connectivity, improve access to opportunities, and help create a more inclusive and resilient Upper Clutha community.