Otago Regional Council (ORC) has restored funding for an Upper Clutha public transport case to the current financial year, ORC councillor Michael Laws says.

Michael moved the motion to restore the funding at yesterday’s full council meeting (Wednesday May 28).

“As a consequence of the regional council's decision [yesterday], $250,000 will be allocated from the council's general rates to fund a business plan for Wānaka public transport,” Michael told the Wānaka App.

ORC had announced in March it would ditch the public transport business case for the Upper Clutha in its draft annual plan, blaming reduced government co-funding.

Councillor Michael Laws PHOTO: Supplied

The business case had been promised in ORC’s Long Term Plan (LTP) last year after the council’s proposal for yet another Upper Clutha public transport trial was rejected during consultation.

Read more: ‘Things will get worse’: Public transport business case ditched by ORC

Michael said Wānaka/Upper Clutha is the fastest growing ward in the Otago region, followed closely by Cromwell - and it deserves a public transport business case.

“Neither receive a public transport service but pay for those provided in Dunedin and Queenstown through our general rates. So today's decision is a minor recompense for that levy," he said.

Michael thanked the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board and Queenstown Lakes District Council “for their positive submissions to the ORC's annual plan”. 

“The information and advocacy that they provided was vital," he said.