Waimakariri schools lobby for cycle ways

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

From local democracy reporter David Hill:

Community feedback has caused the Waimakariri council to rethink its cycle way priorities.

Cycle ways at Swannanoa, Loburn and linking Woodend with Pegasus and Kaiapoi will now be given top priority.

The Waimakariri District Council adopted a revised walking and cycling network plan at Tuesday’s council meeting.

Students from Swannanoa and Loburn Schools gave deputations to Tuesday’s meeting, following presentations from the Woodend community last month.

Eva Dring and Rosie Tapp, from Swannanoa School, said a cycle way was needed to give students a safe alternative to travelling to school by car.

‘‘It is important to us to be independent and to have the ability to do things by ourselves,’’ Eva said.

‘‘But we have to rely on our parents to get around because there’s no safe alternative.’’

Rosie said the cycle way needed to link the school with the Mandeville shops and the sports ground, ‘‘then it will have a purpose and a destination’’.

Keva Woolford, of Loburn School, said a cycle way linking the school on Hodgsons Road with Rangiora Leigh Holiday Park was about safety and reducing carbon footprints.

‘‘Be the changemakers that give my generation the chance to save our world,’’ she challenged councillors.

Roading manager Joanne McBride said there was no confirmed time frame for developing the cycle ways, as they were subject to funding.

The council has made applications to the Government’s ‘‘Better Off’’ fund and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s ‘‘Climate Emergency Response Fund’’ for additional funding.

Mayor Dan Gordon said this result showed the benefit of pressing ahead with developing the walking and cycling network plan, despite missing out on Waka Kotahi funding last year.

‘‘I acknowledge the work that has gone into this and we recall the frustration when our funding wasn’t accepted from Waka Kotahi.

‘‘But we went ahead with the planning anyway and now new funding opportunities have opened up, so hopefully we can move ahead and get the funding we need.’’

Councillor Kirstyn Barnett hailed the outcome as ‘‘democracy in action’’.

She also called on the incoming council to ensure adequate pathways were provided for in new developments on urban fringes.

■ Councillors also adopted revised gambling policies, approved additional funding for sampling of drinking water supplies and for flood response, and the establishment of a temporary car park on Percival Street, Rangiora, was also approved.

The council’s new Gambling Venue Policy has placed the cap on pokie machines at one machine for every 260 residents aged 18 years and over.

The previous limit was one machine for every 120 residents aged 18 years and over.

The TAB Venue Policy was also updated in line with new Government legislation.

New Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules, released by water authority Taumata Arowai in May, required a higher level of testing of the district’s drinking water supplies.

Water asset manager Colin Roxburgh said the required testing would cost around $286,510 for the 2022/23 financial year, compared to the budgeted amount of $204,510.

The new rules take effect on November 14.

Repairs from the July rain events will now cost $3.82 million, an increase on the $3.15m indicated at the September meeting.

McBride said it was expected funding would be available from Waka Kotahi, with the balance loan funded.

Councillors approved a proposal to establish a temporary car park at the former Masonic Lodge site at 132 Percival St.

Strategy, engagement and economic development general manager Simon Hart said the site would cater for 20 to 30 P120 car parks.

He estimated it would cost $27,200 to bring the site up to standard.

■ Public interest journalism is funded by New Zealand on Air.