Disparity in transport funding questioned

‘‘THERE is a sense we have been let down.’’

Those were the words of Active Transport Wanaka spokesman Simon Telfer at the Queenstown Lakes District Council meeting in Wanaka last Friday.

Speaking during the public forum, Mr Telfer said the $1.5 million set aside in the 10year draft plan for an active transport network in Wanaka was ‘‘not fair’’ compared with the $23.5 million allocated to the same in Queenstown.

In the draft plan, construction of the network would not get under way until 2022, which in Mr Telfer’s opinion was far too long to wait.

‘‘The community is desperate for a connected, safer cycle network in town,’’ he said.

Mr Telfer noted the draft plan included a $7.4 million upgrade to one cycle lane between Park St and Hotops Rise in Queenstown, five times the amount set aside for Wanaka’s entire active transport network, and questioned the disparity of funding between the two towns.

Following a 400strong mass bike ride around Wanaka later on Friday evening, Mr Telfer confirmed Active Transport Wanaka was writing a submission to the draft plan.

‘‘Active transport in Wanaka needs to be made real. We need to be able to fund it and we can’t wait four years for a spade to start digging.’’

‘‘To be serious about safer cycling we need more funding, we need to start immediately and we need a better balance between what’s spent in Wanaka and what’s spent in Queenstown,’’ he said.

Councillor Quentin Smith attended the mass bike ride and said the number of people showing support was ‘‘no surprise’’.

Submissions on the 10year plan close on Friday, April 13, at 5pm.