City council proposes finishing cycle trail

Invercargill has the opportunity to take the lead on completing the prospective Invercargill to Bluff cycle trail, a Invercargill City Council committee has heard.

Roading manager Russell Pearson told a meeting of the infrastructure and services committee that it could drive completion of the long-delayed project.

Pearson was at the meeting to present to the committee a report on cycling, including Ride Southland’s Southland cycling strategy.

Cycle tourism was one of four broad categories of cycling the strategy focuses on, with the Invercargill to Bluff route one of the development opportunities highlighted.

Environment Southland had taken the lead on the project since 2011, but the city council might be able to attract different sources of funding, Pearson said.

‘‘The opportunity may well be that council could wish to take control of completing the track, and therefore bid for NZTA funding or other funding and therefore be the lead organisation, as Environment Southland, for instance, can’t seek money from the NZ Transport Agency for such a project.’’

If the city council did accept the task, it would need to be careful about what other responsibilities it took on, with discussion needing to take place over the respons- ibility for maintenance of the completed track, Pearson said.

‘‘Other parties may wish to take up the long-term maintenance of it because the thing would be once you build it, you have to maintain it,’’ he said.

One of the major sticking points that had prevented the trail from being completed centred on crossings, rail Pearson said.

‘‘The problem really has related to getting access across KiwiRail.’’

KiwiRail had a policy of requiring two rail crossings to be closed for every new crossing opened.

The proposed cycle trail would require two rail crossing points, one at Awarua opposite Colyer Rd and the other at a non-public crossing at the entrance of Bluff.

If rail crossings were not possible, a bridge was the only option, which could equate to increased costs, the report says.

Councillor Alex Crackett, who is the chairwoman of Ride Southland, said if the council were to take on the completion of the trail, adoption of the cycling strategy would give the council a better case when making funding applications.

Cr Rebecca Amundsen said a feasibility study could be commissioned to look at the potential options, and Pearson said Venture Southland had produced a report in 2011.

Cr Lesley Soper said that report would now be seven years old, and it would be a good idea to look at it again.

Broadband use on rise

Southland households are consuming more broadband data than last year, Chorus statistics show. The average Invercargill home used 161GB of broadband data in March 2018, compared to 126GB in 2017, while Gore households consumed 123GB and the rest of Southland 115GB. The statistics show the increase in broadband is driven by the surging demand for streaming services such as Netflix.

One of the major sticking points that had prevented the trail from being completed centred on rail crossings

Search warrants executed

South Otago police executed two search warrants at Milton on Friday regarding the use and dealing of methamphetamine. Clutha-Taieri area response manager Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley said drugs and various paraphernalia were located in the Clutha town. Inquiries were continuing and charges are likely to be laid. Clutha police were assisted by the Dunedin prevention team.

Roundabout closure

The roundabout at the intersection of Hokonui Drive and Main St, outside the Gore policestation, will be closed to traffic between 6pm and 7pmfor three or four days this week. NZ Transport Authority contractors are renewing the asphalt. Surrounding streets will be closed and detours will be in place. Access will be available to bars, restaurants and public toilets.

Traffic complaint

A 43-year-old Queenstown man was charged with dangerous driving after police received a complaint on Saturday. Sergeant Clint Wright of Gore said a member of the public called to say a vehicle had been crossing the centre line several times near St Patricks on State Highway 94. A 43-year-old man was stopped and admitted to police that he was ‘‘tired and had nearly fallen asleep’’. He will appear in the Queenstown District Court on April 23.

Men charged

A 44-year-old Pukerau man and a 29-year-old Auckland man have been charged with theft and possession of drug utensils after police searched a Pukerau property on Saturday night. Sergeant Clint Wright said the stolen property had been taken from a property north of the township. The Pukerau man will appear in the Gore District Court tomorrow and the Auckland man was remanded in custody for breaching his bail conditions, to appear in the Invercargill District Court on Monday.

Upgrade successful

The Invercargill city council’s upgrade of the Branxholme water treatment plant has successfully dealt with the issue of unpleasant tastes and odours in the city’s water supply. In a report tabled at yesterday’s meeting of the infrastructure and services committee, water manager Alister Murray said there had been no complaints of water having an earthy taste or odour throughout the summer months. The report says this was particularly noteworthy because the prolonged summer heat produced more of the substances that cause the issues than in previous years. The council had received an average of six complaints a month during previous summers.

Balclutha assault

Police are appealing for witnesses to an alleged assault in Balclutha on April 4. A person charged in connection with the incident was to appear in the Dunedin District Court yesterday. Police would like to hear from a person or people in a red ute who may be able to assist with inquiries. The ute was last seen at Moore’s Beach, Clutha Valley Rd, on the night of April 4.