Disappointment at lack of council action on footpaths

March 12th, 2010
By David Armstrong

The Motueka Community Board is disturbed to learn that the level of Tasman District Council expenditure for Motueka footpaths, cycleways and mobile-scooter ramps for the coming year is limited to the shared path/cycleway leading to Brooklyn School.

At its monthly meeting this week, board chairman David Ogilvie tabled correspondence between the board and council about the status of transportation projects in the Motueka ward and plans for the 2010/2011 year.

The Council's Transportation Manager Gary Clark wrote that with financial constraints placed upon them by central government and the council, all projects are now included in a "ranking matrix" to ensure all work is "focussed on providing the greatest benefit to the community (Tasman district) at large".

He said the new process is "much more transparent", but board members at the meeting have been unable to find out how the "matrix" is structured and under what rules and guidelines projects are ranked. Tara Forde said this made a mockery of the term "transparent".

Specifically, the only project planned to go ahead in Motueka is the new footpath near Brooklyn School. The footpath improvements in Kaiteriteri are on hold as they are too expensive to construct within the limited budget. There may be some works associated with cycle stands, but this budget is small. No major work on any other footpaths are budgeted.

David Ogilvie expressed surprise that the matrix does not seem to relate to the rating base - 25% for the Motueka Ward. "The reality is that we have streets without paths, some streets which need a second path, no cycle lanes in Motueka township, and problems with accessible ramps for mobile scooters. It is frustrating to have to report once again to our residents and ratepayers of the lack of expenditure on those areas for 2."

>> , to be added to the page. [If this link doesn't work, use this form instead]

[ Return ]