Whangārei Heads summer beach bus trial under review

Passenger statistics from the summer beach bus trial to Ocean Beach are currently under review. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A Whangārei beach bus summer trial is under review after it attracted a total of 14 passengers on its busiest day.

The trial was conducted by the Northland Regional Council (NRC) with Ritchies Transport who ran a weekly bus service over the duration of the school holidays. It left the Rose St bus terminal at 11am bound for Ocean Beach, Whangārei Heads, returning at 2.30pm at a cost of $5 each way.

Ritchies Transport operations supervisor Amy Lane confirmed the beach bus took around four passengers some days during the month of December, increasing to 14 per trip in January.

"It wasn't crash-hot over the Christmas period; December was pretty quiet and then it picked up in January."

She said that the outgoing trip attracted the most passengers with some possibly finding their own means of transport home or staying out there.

As to whether the service would become permanent, she said: "Really, it's the council's decision, not ours."

NRC regional transport committee chairman Rick Stolwerk said the statistics were under review and a decision would be made soon.

The summer beach bus trial is under review after it attracted a maximum of 14 passengers on its busiest day. Photo / Michael Cunningham

"As with all trials, NRC will assess the patronage of the Ocean Beach service and make a decision in the near future."

Also under review are the regular weekly services to Hikurangi and Whangārei Heads which are costing NRC and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency a combined $70,000 for the one-year trial.

Both new trials involve 25-seater Ritchies buses operating once a week on a Thursday with a morning and afternoon run and are in response to out-of-town residents who had called for public transport.

However, Lane said while the Hikurangi service was averaging around eight passengers each week, the Whangārei Heads service usually carried between zero and two passengers.

Stolwerk said the funding covered the cost of the bus service, advertising and promoting and tendering.

Some days, zero passengers catch the weekly Whangārei Heads bus service, despite there being a public call-out for it. Photo / Michael Cunningham

"Within the budget, there's also a provision to increase the service with an extra day if demand is high,'' he said.

"The message that we would like to get out to the public in these areas is that if you wish your bus service to continue, you must utilise it. The original contract is for one year and will be extended depending on patronage."

The Hikurangi Link leaves Whangārei's Rose St bus terminal at 9.15am on Thursdays bound for Hikurangi Town Centre arriving at 9.52am and stopping opposite The Miners Rest, before returning to Rose St with multiple stops en route. The bus begins the 37-minute return to Hikurangi from the terminal at 1.30pm, costing $3 each way.

The Whangārei Heads Link departs at 9am on Thursdays from the corner of Reotahi and Whangārei Heads Roads to the bus terminal for a 40-minute journey to the city incorporating multiple stops. Costing $5 each way, the return trip departs at 1.30pm.

NRC increased the rates it took from the public for transport over the 2018-21 financial period to trial passenger transport services in Hikurangi, Whangārei Heads and Ruakākā/Waipū

The Bream Bay bus service was part of the strategy and had launched earlier with Covid-19 delaying the launch of the other two routes due to fewer people using public transport. It was now averaging 11 passengers per trip, which Stolwerk deemed a success.

"The Bream Bay service picked up very quickly but it had quite a community drive towards it.

"It makes it worthwhile and it has been a success. I think in the end, the success or failure lies in the hands of the community and we really encourage them to use it. With these services, it's really up to the public as to whether they continue."