The Nelson City Council is pushing ahead with $600,000 plans to widen the Maitai Walkway between Collingwood and Nile Sts, but is extending the timeframe for work so it can consult with the community on how to best approach the “cycle corridor”.
Councillor Tim Skinner was a lone-voter against the recommendation to widen the path to shared pathway standards during the council’s deliberations on long term plan submissions this week.
He said the council should stop plans to develop the area after it heard from a number of submitters who wanted to protect the riverside environment and were concerned about the impact on the area of an increase in cyclists and a wider walkway.
“People can get off their bikes and walk it if they want to go down there.”
In her submission to the long term plan Tahunanui resident Charmaine Koed said she would like the plans for the walkway to start from scratch and for the council to work with Friends of the Maitai, who have “the necessary skills and expertise”, and the public to develop a new proposal.
“It’s so important for residents to feel part of the process, and cities where this happens are more vibrant and suffer less negative behaviour than places where the population feel they have no say.”
She said she hoped the council didn’t turn the route into an arterial link from the Brook and Maitai Valleys into the city as “such a plan would ruin this piece of the Maitai for walkers, runners and picnickers”.
“There is no comparable facility near the city centre and this place of recreation would be lost the many current users.”
Councillor Mike Ward said councillors had received very good feedback on the proposal and a number of those who submitted weren’t opposed to change, rather to building a large walkway that was out of character with the area.
“We have heard what people are saying and we will come up with something that suits everyone,” he said.
Councillors Pete Rainey and Luke Acland agreed that they wouldn’t like their children cycling along Collingwood St and said it was important there was a path where children could ride bikes along the Maitai River.
The $600,000 development was budgeted to happen this financial year but due to community concern and a desire for more consultation the money has been moved to next year’s budget.
Councillors will get a report on the project by September, after a council workshop on cycling and “feedback from stakeholders”, staff said.
The council workshop on cycling with also pave the way for the development of a off-road cycle track strategy. The strategy is aimed at mitigating growing tensions between walkers and cyclists and setting a strategic direction for cycling in Nelson, including the planning the development of new cycle tracks and facilities.
The council unanimously voted to create a $10,000 contract for an agency to gather information and establish priorities for a strategy, to meet outcomes set by the council.
The council will be engaging with Bicycle Nelson Bays, the Regional Cycling Forum, Greypower, NZTA and a number of other groups and agencies to “investigate solutions between cyclists and pedestrians on the council’s shared tracks and paths”.
Nelson mayor Rachel Reese said it was important people felt comfortable and safe when they were out walking and high quality walking spaces were really important with an aging population.
“The mental and physical outcomes are poor when people stop walking. This shouldn’t just be a transport goal, it has positive social, environmental and economic outcomes.”
– Stuff