New Zealand's Minister of Housing at Glen Innes, Auckland.
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Sustainable transport
Introduction
Housing New Zealand employs around 1000 staff in 46 offices throughout New Zealand.
Staff are required to visit properties, homes, buildings, councils, builders and building sites
as part of their work.
Travel plan
Background
Housing New Zealand has approximately 400 staff in the Auckland region located in a
National Office and in 15 neighbourhood offices.
In August 2006, the Executive committee agreed to pilot travel planning in our Auckland
offices in partnership with Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA). A steering
group was established, with the overall target of reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips to
work.
Goals included:
•
Generating less traffic.
•
Increasing non-driving options for staff.
•
Reducing the Corporation’s environmental footprint.
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Research phase
Auckland staff completed a travel survey (with a 60% response rate), were consulted in
person, and were kept informed by regular newsletters. This raised awareness of the
problems created by vehicle traffic and highlighted options for taking action. The
feedback from staff, policy audits, and survey analysis identified possible initiatives.
Initiatives
Different initiatives were tailored for each office’s unique situation. A mixture of short and
long term, minimal cost and greater cost initiatives of different modes were selected.
These initiatives are outlined below:
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Travel Plan Initiatives
Decrease SOVs
Public Transport
Cycling
Car Pooling
Other
Free trial on network
PT info at reception
Maxx Roadshow
Personal planner
Set up scheme
Guaranteed-
RideHome
Reserved parks
Code of Conduct
Induction Pack
Information Display
Policies
Facilities
Alternate-
WorkingHours
Increase PT use
Double no# of cyclists
Car Pooling
Raise Awareness
Decrease SOVs
Decrease Co2 emissions
Increase sustainable methods of commuting
Pool Bikes
Discounts
Partnership w/ Store
BikeWise
Facilities
•
Umbrellas
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Staff are reluctant to walk or take public transport in bad weather.
−
Umbrellas were provided to encourage people to walk .
•
Free public transport trial
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A week’s free trial on public transport was given to 30 staff, to show that it
is a viable alternative to the car.
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−
Anecdotally some staff have changed their commute to work permanently,
but all involved thought the trial worthwhile and will use public transport
more frequently now.
•
Public transport information displayed
−
Public transport information was provided in the receptions and staff rooms,
including nearest public transport stops, timetables, routes and maps.
−
This will educate staff and tenants on what public transport is available in
their area. Sometimes education is enough to encourage a change in
behaviour.
Minister of Housing Hon Chris Carter unveils the pool bikes
•
Pool bikes, helmets and locks
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Six pool bikes have been provided to four offices to commute and visit
tenants. This included helmets, locks, lights, panniers and racks.
−
Bike stands and hooks were provided to allow the bikes to be stored.
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Safety information was provided to staff.
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A partnership has been formed with Calibre Cycles in Newmarket, ensuring
ongoing maintenance of the bikes, discount opportunities for staff and
sound advice on cycling in the city.
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•
Car pool programme set up
−
A car pooling code of conduct is being developed to provide personal
security and assurance for staff.
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A car pooling coffee club will be established in September. Cross-
organisational car pooling will be investigated and formalised by the end of
2007 utilising ARTA’s car pool software when available.
•
Personal planners
−
ARTA provided personalised public transport planning to all staff that filled
in the TravelWise survey. This included a home–to-work public transport
route, identified where to catch the bus, train or ferry, at what time and how
much it would cost.
•
Guaranteed ride home
−
Staff may perceive they need to drive to work in case they need their
vehicle for an emergency, for example a sick child or having to work later
than public transport runs.
−
A guaranteed ride home provides a taxi ride home in cases of
emergencies, capped at four trips a year. It is a safety net to remove a
barrier to alternative transport.
•
Work tickets
−
While work travel was outside the scope of this project, consultation
identified occasions where it may be more convenient for staff to use public
transport to travel for work purposes, for example travelling into town for a
tenancy tribunal hearing.
−
A stock of public transport tickets is now held in offices for such occasions.
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Reserved car parks
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Reserving car parks for car poolers provides an encouragement to car pool.
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Some offices are investigating this option.
•
As part of an assessment of total rewards, Housing New Zealand is reviewing
staff entitlements. Concepts that may benefit TravelWise include:
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Flexible working hours.
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Tele-working.
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Compressed working week.
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Follow up and continuous improvement
A repeat survey of staff will be conducted in 2008 to measure the results of the initiatives.
This will allow us to celebrate successes and implement improvements. The plan will be
fully integrated into future business planning. If successful, the pilot will be repeated in
other areas of the country.
Procurement
Housing New Zealand has a Vehicle Policy that makes up part of the overall Sustainable
Procurement Tool Kit. Fleet selection is driven by ‘fit for purpose’, cost and safety criteria,
with environmental criteria being introduced in 2006. Some vehicle rotation within the
organisation takes place; this is a recently implemented action.
Fleet review
Housing New Zealand was one of a number of organisations that reviewed its vehicle fleet
in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport.
Housing New Zealand has selected a variety of vehicles for its fleet, including wagons,
hatches and some soft-road capable vehicles for the East Cape and Northland.
The fleet age is determined by the rotation and procurement policies. The average age of
the fleet is just under five-years.
The Corporation’s policy, for fully costed vehicles is:
•
Only available to the chief executive, general managers or direct reports to
general managers.
•
Replaced after three years or 60,000km whichever comes first.
•
Any vehicle up to $45,000 GST incl
(
CE & GMs).
•
Up to a 2.0 litre vehicle to a value of $30,000 GST incl (direct reports)
•
Salary sacrifice of 31 percent per annum of the total cost of the vehicle.
Internally Housing New Zealand business divisions are required to ask for vehicles for
their business and provide a supporting business case to gain approval.
Housing New Zealand Replacement Schedule Policy:
•
Pool cars are five-years or 100,000km whichever is first
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Fully costed vehicles are three-years or 60,000km
Safety
Most of the vehicles have a minimum of driver and passenger airbags and ABS braking
system.
Other safety criteria include:
•
Air Conditioning
•
ANCAP 4-star or better
Housing New Zealand is increasing the safety requirements for its fleet.
Fuel economy/environmental requirements
Fuel economy is taken into consideration when selecting vehicles.
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Fuel monitoring
The fleet participates in the BP purchase contract managed through GSB SupplyCorp.
Fuel Card use is monitored for management purposes and to ensure that staff use the
appropriate fuel. Exception reports are noted and where possible appropriate action
taken.
Alternative fuel
All vehicles have petrol engines, and use ULP 91 unleaded fuel. New vehicles also
include diesel.
Whole of life cost(s)
Housing New Zealand tries to calculate the whole of life costs of its vehicles.
Fleet upgrades
The Corporation made a policy change in April 2006 to transition 70–75 percent of its
pooled fleet to 1.3/1.5 variants and this will happen over the next four years in accordance
with our pooled vehicle replacement policy of five-years/100,000km whichever comes first.
The vehicles purchased in 2006/07 have lowered the size of the fleet as shown:
2006
2007
<1600cc
12
59
1600-1999cc
299
251
2000-2999cc
108
118
3000-4000cc
27
22
Total
446
450
Average
engine size
1841cc
1802cc
Maintenance
Most vehicles are purchased with a three-year scheduled service plan.
Reduction in air travel
Video conference facilities are available in Housing New Zealand’s three national offices
in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. These are regularly used.
Attachments:
Sustainable Procurement Toolkit
Guaranteed Ride Home policy
Housing New Zealand Corporation Shared Bike Guidelines