A plan to widen roads on Otago Peninsula has found favour even as environmental concerns persist, submissions to the Dunedin City Council's annual plan suggest.
The council wants to widen sections of Portobello Rd and Harington Point Rd between Vauxhall and Taiaroa Head.
Of the 25 annual plan submissions that touched on the plan, 16 were in favour and nine were against it. Resident Korena Paterson said she fully supported the continuing improvements to Portobello Rd and Harington Point Rd.
''As well as improving safety for the numerous pedestrians and cyclists who regularly use this stretch of road, linking communities has many health and social benefits,'' she wrote.
Extending the improvements to cover more of the road, especially between Vauxhall and Glenfalloch, was a common request from those supporting the plan.
In another submission, Save The Otago Peninsula secretary Jenny Winter said the project would result in the reclamation of 10.12ha of inter-tidal zone.
This was unacceptable in terms of loss of bird feeding area and marine fauna, she wrote.
In his submission, Dunedin Amenities Society chair Robin Hyndman said opportunities for pedestrian and cycling access were important but the council had yet to present a robust or detailed analysis of the financial, environmental, landscape, cultural and community implications.
Otago Peninsula Community Board deputy chair Christine Garey said Broad Bay residents she had spoken to were concerned continuing disagreement would slow or even entirely derail the process.
Mrs Garey was worried that if delays continued, the New Zealand Transport Agency might withdraw its funding for the project which was essential for the safety of road-users.
Board member Lox Kellas said the work needed to be done to cope with increased traffic volumes as the Peninsula became an increasingly important tourist destination in the future.
In an interview this month, city councillor Jinty MacTavish said concerns NZTA could cut its funding could be unfounded as the road-widening work was not due to begin for at least two years and everything was proceeding on schedule so far.
Studies showed there were ways to complete the work that could mitigate damage to the environment, she said.
- by Jonathan Chilton-Towle
