Waikato regional economic profile - Waikato Regional Council

Waikato to, or from, the Bay of Plenty region (30 per cent) through traffic between the Bay of Plenty and north of Waikato, both directions(25 per cent) Waikato to, or from, the north (20 per cent), and through traffic between areas to the north of Waikato and the south of theregion (18 per cent). 141Of the total freight volumes impacting on the Waikato region, rail carried about sixmillion tonnes including 27 per cent of through traffic and 18 per cent of freight to orfrom the region. 142KiwiRail has recognised the importance of the Waikato region in the distribution offreight by rail, with the region involved in three of the nine Routes of NationalSignificance identified in the KiwiRail Turnaround Plan. This plan, which wasannounced by the government in 2010, aims to turn KiwiRail into a financially selfsustainablebusiness by prioritising investment in the state owned enterprise’s physicalassets.Figure 54: KiwiRail major traffic flows map 143The Regional Land Transport Strategy preferred strategic approach recognises thenature of the region as an important inter-regional freight corridor and the need toprotect, maintain and develop key strategic corridors to ensure they can continue tofacilitate regional economic development by catering for future growth. Rail plays avery important role as a strategic corridor and as a freight mode.The Regional Land Transport Strategy recognises that rail clearly has an importantcurrent and future role in the transport system within the region, especially for thelonger distance inter-regional movements and providing the links between Waikatoproducers and their markets.141King et al (2008).142Waikato Regional Council (2011k, p. 24).143KiwiRail (2009?, p. 26).Page 50 Doc #: 2069885