Coastal cycle trail will happen - advocate
"It's a fractional cost addition – it would have been an absolute crime and illogical if it hadn't been done." John Forrest
A combined walking and cycling coastal trail is now a certainty after the Government chipped in to fund the most difficult section near Kaikoura, an advocate says.
John Forrest first proposed the Coastal Pacific Trail between Marlborough Sounds’ Ship Cove and Christchurch’s Cathedral Square in a January opinion piece.
He said the announcement on Monday by Transport Minister Simon Bridges to provide $231 million of improvements for State Highway 1 meant the trail would definitely go ahead.
The funding included provision for an 11-kilometre cycleway and walkway between Okiwi Bay to Mangamaunu, which Forrest said had been the stumbling block.
‘‘That’s the technically hardest point and I think it’s probably prohibited any construction of a cycleway or a walkway there in the past.’’
Forrest and other trail lobbyists had always maintained part of it should be incorporated in the SH1 and rail line rebuild. ‘‘It’s a fractional cost addition – it would have been an absolute crime and illogical if it hadn’t been done.’’
Forrest said the Government announcement signalled the Coastal Pacific Trail was achievable and that other supporters would now feel more confident backing the project.
Members of a working group set up to pursue the idea had invested thousands of hours into what had, at times, felt like a gamble, but it was now paying off. ‘‘We’re more reinvigorated, more determined and more certain it’s going to go ahead.‘‘
Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith said the Government recognised the value of SH1 as a destination in itself, not just as a means of getting from Picton to Kaikoura.
The Government funding should encourage the Marlborough District Council – which had put $50,000 towards a feasibility study on the trail that was due to be complete by August’s end – to contribute more, he said.
‘‘It’s pretty clear the way forward is getting backing from local sources and local Government in particular.’’
NZ Transport Agency earthquake recovery manager Steve Mutton said the cycleway and walkway from Okiwi Bay would be a small fraction of the $231m.
The majority would be spent on other improvements, including wider shoulders, additional parking, stopping areas, viewing platforms and safety barriers.
While a repaired SH1 was on track to open by Christmas, improvements would continue into 2018. He said the cycleway and walkway would be finished by 2018’s end.