The Maitai Walkway could be turned into a main cycling route, it has been revealed.
Friends of the Maitai are concerned at the prospect and say turning the Maitai Walkway into the arterial cycling route from the suburbs to the CBD and out to Richmond could seriously compromise the nature of the riverside path and should be subject to a high level of public consultation.
So far the planning process for the section of the path between Nile and Collingwood Sts had been less than transparent and that needed to change, the group’s representatives said.
David Ayre and Tom Kennedy spoke at the latest Nelson City Council works and infrastructure committee meeting, telling councillors about their concerns over the development of plans for the Maitai Walkway from Nile to Collingwood Sts.
In this year’s annual plan $620,000 was put aside to widen the section of path to a minimum of 2.5 metres with wider sections in busier areas to meet shared path standards. NZTA said it would provide 53 per cent of the funding.
But Ayres said he was shown plans last December that had the section of the path widened to 3.5 to 4 metres in the most part at the expense of 23 trees.
However, those plans were rejected by the council committee in February with committee chair Eric Davy saying they weren’t good enough.
At Tuesday’s meeting mayor Rachel Reese asked Ayre and Kennedy what they thought the purpose of widening the path was and how they would feel if, “sitting in the background”, was the prospect of the walkway becoming the main arterial route between The Wood, The Brook and Richmond.
Both Ayre and Kennedy said if that was the case there would need to be major public consultation and the planning process would need to be a lot more inclusive and transparent.
Kennedy said protecting the natural riverside environment, where families had picnics and fed the ducks, was of primary importance and the section of the path was a lot different to that further downstream by Rutherford Park.
Ayre agreed, saying if path was to be changed to a transport corridor it would dramatically change the nature of the area.
“Any change like that needs to happen in a clear and transparent way so people can see it coming and there are no surprises.”
Reese said physical works on the project would not proceed until councillors had been updated by staff, who would be working with the public to draft new plans, and councillors would need to establish if the objectives of the project fitted with the area.
“It is part of a wider walking and cycling initiative so it sits within the context of walk/cycle/schools package throughout the city.
“What we need to do is go and have a look at that and see if those objectives fit with the area of land that’s wanting to be used. We need to look at the issues that were brought up around how that piece of land is used and whether it is compatible with what’s trying to be achieved as part of the network.”
Reese said a private council workshop on the walkway scheduled for April had been cancelled so the public’s concerns and ideas could be discussed openly through the long term plan and other council processes.
“I really do believe in the principle of no surprises, it’s about respecting your community and saying look this is what we’re thinking about before you go ‘oh by the way I’m doing this’.”
She said the Maitai Walkway seemed to have turned into a significant transport link and the council had to look at whether an arterial walking/cycling network could be retrofitted into the space or whether there was a better alternative.
The area had proved to be of sufficient interest and the council had to engage better with the community on proposals for its development, she said.
Ayre said Friends of the Maitai was not opposed to widening the path to 2.5 metres and there were “perfectly practical” solutions to making the section cyclist and walker friendly without compromising the nature of the area.
February’s withdrawn report listed three options for the path: to widen it to shared pathway standards, to build a separate cycleway between Bridge St and 50 Domett St and make a section of Domett St one way, or to build a separate cycleway between Bridge St and 50 Domett St and remove parks to allow for passing bays.
The report said staff had come up against “significant opposition” to widening the section of the path during the consultation process with residents.
Council staff said they would conduct further consultation with residents and come back to the councillors with new plans. No further consultation has taken place.
Ayre said Friends of the Maitai would continue to work with the council through the long term plan process.
– Stuff
To download the submission in pdf version put forward by David Ayre & Tom Kennedy click Maitai Walkway Submission 5 May.