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Route 85 Rolleston-to-City direct bus service improvements

The proposed improvements impact residents in:

  • Rolleston
  • Prebbleton
  • Springston
  • Lincoln
  • Burnham Camp

Ratepayers in these areas currently pay an annual fixed amount as a targeted rate for local public transport services.

Alternative funding for Route 85 service improvements

Public transport is funded by grants from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), as well as targeted rates and bus fares. 

In Year 2 of the Long-Term Plan, we planned to make service improvements to several direct services between Rolleston/City, Lincoln/City and Route 5 (Rolleston/New Brighton). Implementation of these service improvements was dependent on getting funding from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Unfortunately, we did not receive funding in the National Land Transport Programme 2024-27 and so are unable to proceed with all the improvements as planned.

However, because we’ve heard strong support from Selwyn district for improvements to public transport, we are now proposing to use the targeted public passenger transport services rate already budgeted for Selwyn to make improvements to Route 85, the direct service from Rolleston to Christchurch city. This is the service improvement we believe offers the most benefit to the community and where there is the highest demand for additional services.

Do you support our proposed trial?

We want to know whether you would support a 2-year trial of improvements for the direct services between Rolleston and Christchurch city. If the trial is approved we will engage further with the local community to scope the potential improvements and prioritise them based on local feedback and the available funding.

  • For 2025/26 a targeted rate of $224.74 per rating unit is currently budgeted for the urban areas of Rolleston, Prebbleton, Springston, Lincoln and Burnham Camp. The 2025/26 budgeted amount for rural Selwyn residents is $27.11 per rating unit. These amounts include the cost of running the current bus service, as well as a contribution to the service improvements that we anticipated would be co-funded by NZTA Waka Kotahi in 2025/26.
  • If the trial did go ahead, the above targeted rate already budgeted for 2025/26 include the costs of the trial for the full year ($57.72 for urban areas and $7.13 for rural areas). The cost of the trial would be reviewed yearly.
  • If the trial doesn't go ahead, the urban Selwyn Public Transport targeted service rate could be expected to decrease from $224.74 to $167.02. This means that ratepayers in urban Rolleston, Prebbleton, Springston, Lincoln and Burnham Camp could see an average saving of $57.72 per rating unit in 2025/26.
  • Similarly, the rural Selwyn Public Transport targeted service rate would decrease from $27.11 to $19.98 for a saving of $7.13 per rating unit in 2025/26.
  • If successful, the trialed improvements could be eligible for funding through the next National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) 2027-30 and potentially become a permanent part of the public transport network.

Have a read about the options and then tell us what you think before 5pm 3 April 2025.

As we prepare our Annual Plan for 2025/26, we want to hear what you think about:

The proposed improvements impact residents in:

  • Rolleston
  • Prebbleton
  • Springston
  • Lincoln
  • Burnham Camp

Ratepayers in these areas currently pay an annual fixed amount as a targeted rate for local public transport services.

Alternative funding for Route 85 service improvements

Public transport is funded by grants from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), as well as targeted rates and bus fares. 

In Year 2 of the Long-Term Plan, we planned to make service improvements to several direct services between Rolleston/City, Lincoln/City and Route 5 (Rolleston/New Brighton). Implementation of these service improvements was dependent on getting funding from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Unfortunately, we did not receive funding in the National Land Transport Programme 2024-27 and so are unable to proceed with all the improvements as planned.

However, because we’ve heard strong support from Selwyn district for improvements to public transport, we are now proposing to use the targeted public passenger transport services rate already budgeted for Selwyn to make improvements to Route 85, the direct service from Rolleston to Christchurch city. This is the service improvement we believe offers the most benefit to the community and where there is the highest demand for additional services.

Do you support our proposed trial?

We want to know whether you would support a 2-year trial of improvements for the direct services between Rolleston and Christchurch city. If the trial is approved we will engage further with the local community to scope the potential improvements and prioritise them based on local feedback and the available funding.

  • For 2025/26 a targeted rate of $224.74 per rating unit is currently budgeted for the urban areas of Rolleston, Prebbleton, Springston, Lincoln and Burnham Camp. The 2025/26 budgeted amount for rural Selwyn residents is $27.11 per rating unit. These amounts include the cost of running the current bus service, as well as a contribution to the service improvements that we anticipated would be co-funded by NZTA Waka Kotahi in 2025/26.
  • If the trial did go ahead, the above targeted rate already budgeted for 2025/26 include the costs of the trial for the full year ($57.72 for urban areas and $7.13 for rural areas). The cost of the trial would be reviewed yearly.
  • If the trial doesn't go ahead, the urban Selwyn Public Transport targeted service rate could be expected to decrease from $224.74 to $167.02. This means that ratepayers in urban Rolleston, Prebbleton, Springston, Lincoln and Burnham Camp could see an average saving of $57.72 per rating unit in 2025/26.
  • Similarly, the rural Selwyn Public Transport targeted service rate would decrease from $27.11 to $19.98 for a saving of $7.13 per rating unit in 2025/26.
  • If successful, the trialed improvements could be eligible for funding through the next National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) 2027-30 and potentially become a permanent part of the public transport network.

Have a read about the options and then tell us what you think before 5pm 3 April 2025.

As we prepare our Annual Plan for 2025/26, we want to hear what you think about:

  • An increasing demand on buses

    Rolleston currently has the greatest need for an increase in service due to significant population and housing growth, increasing demand on buses.

    The surrounding areas of Prebbleton, Springston, Lincoln and Burnham Camp would have access to Rolleston and its park and ride facilities, so would benefit from the increase in service, too.

    The improvements would take time

    It’s important we let you know that the trial won't happen right away, because we would need to investigate the best way to invest the budget available. However, improvements could include:

    • increasing frequency,
    • capacity or scheduled operating hours - and would only be put in place after further testing options with the community.

    As a trial, this improvement is aligned with the Government Policy Statement for Land Transport strategic priorities, as well as the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan. If successful, it could be eligible for funding through the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) 2027-30. If the trial is supported, it would likely start late in Year 2 (2025/26). We would then review the service after the first year to make any adjustments.

  • What impact would this have on rates?

    You will see this reflected in the draft Annual Plan financial tables.

    Uniform Targeted Public Transport Services Rate (Selwyn)

    Please note the below table only relates to the targeted public passenger transport services rate and does not reflect the total rates paid.

    Rating area Proposed passenger transport targeted rate 2025/26 including Route 85 trial improvements Proposed passenger transport targeted rate 2025/26 excluding Route 85 trial improvements Calculation basis
    Urban areas of Rolleston, Lincoln, Prebbleton, Springston and Burnham Camp
    		 $224.74
    		$167.02
    		Fixed amount per rating unit
    All rural areas of Selwyn
    		$27.11
    		$19.98
    		Fixed amount per rating unit

    *This information can be found on page 115 of the draft Annual Plan 2025/26.

Page last updated: 12 Mar 2025, 01:13 PM