Dunedin’s cable car plans could be expanded

I CERTAINLY hope the ‘‘cable car’’ trust gets a positive response from the Provincial Growth Fund, as this is the sort of project that has the potential to have benefits to the community well beyond what it will cost, and the direct income it will make.

Like San Francisco, it can link our modern high tech city with our past in an iconic way. In a way that will get remembered, people want to see, and reinforces what makes our city unique.

We also now have the opportunity to link three proposed projects to create something really special.

If the cable car was to continue from the Exchange right down to the Steamer Basin, we could create a connection to the waterfront that will draw people there. An underpass combining the cable car, and pedestrian and cycle access can provide a practical and visual flow to the waterfront in a way that a large meandering bridge can never do. This is both practically and economically achievable.

At relatively little cost we could built an underpass that would provide good direct access to the waterfront under the railway and road, however, if we were not careful that could end up like the ones that people can find intimidating overseas.

However, for $20 million (the cost of the proposed bridge), or less, something really spectacular could be built.

Let’s ensure we choose the most functional solutions to our waterfront connection, then back them up with great design.

And let’s further reinforce those great links between the past and the future that make this place so special. Stephen Macknight

St Leonards