Plans to investigate congestion charges further in Tauranga have been dropped by council after a public outcry.

Instead, issues with the road congestion charges will be investigated further at a cost of $1.5 million.

Tauranga City Council opted to investigate issues raised by the community after strong opposition to congestion charges.

The commission decided look at these issues rather than progress with a business case during long-term plan deliberations on Monday.

They approved $1.5m funding for the investigation, spread equally over three years.

The council consulted on whether to investigate congestion charges through a business case as part of the 2024-34 long-term plan.

They received 1099 submissions about the charges with 81 per cent of these opposed to congestion charging, and just 14 per cent in support.

A concept plan for Tauranga congestion charges, with the priced roads in red. Photo: Tauranga City Council.

People were also asked if they supported the council working with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi on a business case, with 78 per cent opposing the move and 22 per cent in support.

Dubbed SmartTrip Variable Road Pricing, the charges would replace the current tolls on the Takitimu Northern Link (TNL) and the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL).

Pricing would change based on the time of day and where people were accessing the road network from.

One concept showed the priced network would include the state Highway ring around the Te Papa Peninsula (SH2, SH29, SH29A), SH2 and TNL from Te Puna, and the TEL.

Issues raised by submitters included the cost, location and time of the charges, and the availability of alternative transport modes, like buses and cycle routes.

Equity concerns were also raised for lower income earners and the impact it would have on the wider road network if people avoided the paid roads.

 Commissioner Stephen Selwood said analysis showed congestion would double in the next 10 years. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

Commissioner Stephen Selwood said the initial SmartTrip analysis showed congestion would double in the next 10 years if options like these weren’t looked at.

“We need to use our existing network more efficiently and more effectively and that's what congestion charging, or as we've named it SmartTrip pricing, can achieve.

“That said, the community have raised many very valid issues that need to be resolved,” said Selwood.

“It is true that we need to invest more in public transport, so we start to provide viable alternatives for people.”

Commissioner Bill Wasley supported getting “good information” from a local perspective and said it was important to feed this into any national changes.

The Government indicated that road charging legislation would be considered as a way of reducing congestion and improving travel reliability in New Zealand cities.

A law change is required to enable congestion charging.

Commissioner Shadrach Rolleston said paying for access to roads was not a new concept for Tauranga. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

Commissioner Shadrach Rolleston said there had been tolls in Tauranga since 1988.

There was a toll to use the Tauranga Harbour Bridge from its opening in 1988 until 2001. Tauranga also has two of the country’s three toll roads.

“The prospect of paying for access [to roads] is not a new thing for the community.

“We need to pay for our transport in a more efficient way”.

Removing tolls and the fuel tax, while getting people to pay for what they use was a more efficient way to gather revenue and reinvest back in the transport network, he said.

Commission chair Anne Tolley said income from petrol tax was dropping dramatically and would continue to do so. while the state highways were in a “poor state.”

Commission chair Anne Tolley said the wasn't enough money to go around to pay for transport infrastructure. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

“There just isn't enough money to go around to do to the things we need to do.”

Tolley said it made sense to get involved in the discussion about congestion charges early rather than reacting to it.

The commission also agreed for the council to engage with NZTA-Waka Kotahi, the Ministry of Transport, and other councils, including Auckland Council, to explore nationally consistent approaches to congestion charges.

“Given that Government policy is likely to take this matter out of our hands, the commission’s view is that we should investigate the key concerns expressed by our community,” said Tolley in a statement after the meeting.

“Tauranga is the only council in the country which has consulted on the road pricing concept.”

This meant the council had “rich feedback” to pass on to the government, she said.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.