Govt, ratepayers pressure TDC on cycle trail

April 30th, 2012

The Government is threatening to cut funding for the Tasman Great Taste cycle trail if councillors do not commit to completing it on time and link the 175km loop to Kaiteriteri, according to an article in the Nelson Mail.

TDC has already received $2.146 million in government funding for the first stage of the trail from Richmond to Mapua and Wakefield, and its engineering and services committee voted to finish that section.

Councillors also supported plans to construct the remaining two stages that will loop around Motueka, Tapawera and Kohatu, and a link to Kaiteriteri, but refused to commit to a timetable for funding the project.

It had deferred the completion of the cycle trail in its latest draft long-term plan, instead proposing an alternative low-cost, temporary route through Dovedale Rd.

However, the council came under pressure to fast-track construction of the trail after an ultimatum from the Ministry of Economic Development was tabled at the meeting.

New Zealand Cycle Trail project manager Jonathan Kennett said the ministry would "revisit the funding of this trail", possibly freezing existing unallocated funds for stage one, if the council did not commit to completing the last two stages in the next six years.

The "payment of any additional funds up to a maximum of $150,000 was dependent on TDC completing a Great Taste Trail loop and the link to Kaiteriteri", he said. The council had until the end of this month to apply for that extra funding.

The council's proposal to defer construction of the trail has also been opposed by people making submissions to the draft long-term plan. The council received 94 written submissions on the cycle trail, all against delaying the project. (See our story here.)

Read the full Nelson Mail article here.

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