Dear Ms Lockett ,

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your official information request dated 17 December 2024 regarding Mountains to the Sea cycle trail.

We received your request on 17 December 2024. We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 5 February 2025. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact me on (06) 349 0001 or by return email. If any additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact me so that these can be taken into account.

*Please note your response date has been calculated with holidays taken into account. During the Christmas/New Year holiday period work will continue on processing information requests, although delivery timeframes may be impacted. This is because the days from 20 December to 10 January are not counted as working days in the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

Kind regards,

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Dear Ms Lockett,

 

I refer to your official information request dated 17 December 2024
regarding the completion of Nga Ara Tuhono cycle trail.

 

The information you have requested is as follows.

 

1]  Is council aware of Downer's encroachment onto WDC land?  If so, has
action been taken to remedy this trespass?  Have they then considered that
piece of land, along with the verge could be used in the completion of the
cycleway?

The Downer yard is leased from the Port Company which is a Council
Controlled Organisation. The boundaries of the yard look to be accurate on
Council mapping. Our preferred route for the pathway is around the river
side of the Downer Yard.  This provides views of the port and river, and
is away from traffic and commercial vehicle crossings. 

 

This route has been discussed with affected parties and will need final
approvals and funding to progress.  The route along Heads Road has been
considered as an alternate route if the riverside route becomes
unavailable.

 

2]  Has WDC worked on replacing the funding withdrawn by this government
and found replacement funding?

Council are considering funding options for the remaining work.

 

3]  What steps has WDC taken to ensure the completion of the cycleway and
ensure the safety of those using it?  Has WDC considered, at the very
least, to establish a temporary  kerbside, walking and cycle lane
separated from the traffic as has been done at 59 Bryce Street.  This
seems to be possible at minimal cost.  

 

The work completed over the last 12 months has provided significant
sections of off road pathway for the Gilberd Street to North Mole section
of the route.  There is considerable demand for all day worker parking
along the Heads Road section that still requires cyclist to use the road. 
We would need to find alternate parking for these vehicles if we removed
kerbside parking to provide an on-road separated pathway and the necessary
funding to install it.

 

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

 

If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
me on 06 349 0001 or by return email.

 

 

Yours sincerely

Whanganui District Council

 

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