Wanaka to Hawea shuttle trial to return
REGAN HARRIS regan.harris@alliedpress.co.nz
Get on board . . . Encouraging commuters to try out the shuttle service are (from left) owner and operator of Yello! Ramash Swamy, Community Networks/LINK community development coordinator Joanna Perry, former Community Networks/LINK manager Kathy Dedo and former Labour Party parliamentary candidate Jon Mitchell. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Public transport is returning to Wanaka, with Community Networks/LINK planning to launch a second shuttle trial connecting Wanaka and Lake Hawea this year.
The new three-month trial will offer additional routes and expand its schedule to five days a week, said Community Networks/ LINK trial co-ordinator Joanna Perry.
“The trial was a huge success in terms of positive feedback from people both on and off the bus” she said.
While rider numbers were lower than anticipated, Ms Perry said they were trending upwards over time and would likely continue to do so in the second trial as more commuters became aware of the service.
A start date for the new trial is yet to be announced. Funding will come from the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s Climate Action & Biodiversity Plan and Lake Wanaka Tourism.
A report released by Community Networks/ LINK showed 655 passengers rode the shuttle during the first trial, which ran three days a week from September 28-December 21 last year.