The New Zealand Transport Agency says it is open to all ideas for completing the West Harbour cycleway, but it needs to be much cheaper than estimates for the original plan which were well over the $6 million to $10 million allocated.
What cost might be acceptable for any new plan is not clear. In an emailed response to questions, NZTA southern business unit manager Ian Duncan said the agency was not working to a target cost. Its aim was to test alternative designs which completed the path and presented better value for money, he said.
Last week's news that construction of the final leg of the cycling/walking path will not start before 2018 and is likely to involve widening a footpath at Sawyers Bay rather than following the railway line, has been greeted with dismay in the community.
Cycling advocacy group Spokes Dunedin chairman Dr Robert Thompson said if the agency had sought input when it realised the original proposal was too costly earlier this year, some creative solutions might have already been found.
Spokes Dunedin was not happy about the delay or the likely changes to the layout of the route, although at this stage it was hard to know exactly what the design might be.
Dr Thompson has suggested boardwalks as an alternative to reclamation. This had been successfully done at Otakau on the Otago Peninsula and would lessen disruption to shallow sea habitats.
The Otakau boardwalk covered a much shorter distance than what was needed for Blanket Bay, he said.
‘‘If that appears a more cost-effective solution, then we are open to it.''
Mr Duncan said the agency aimed to have some plans prepared for the July/August update to the Chalmers Community Board.
These would be likely to show the upgrade of the existing footpath from Sawyers Bay to Port Chalmers.
Mr Duncan said the agency expected to go out for community feedback toward the end of the year ‘‘once we have a better understanding of the opportunities in other key areas, primarily Blanket Bay and the Roseneath cutting''.
While the agency was open to all ideas, ‘‘the design has to change and there needs to be substantial savings while still providing an alternative and much safer route for pedestrians and cyclists''.
The extension of the existing footpath ‘‘not only provides those savings but it also delivers a safety benefit for Sawyers Bay residents and children who already use this path''.
At last week's Chalmers Community Board meeting, board members expressed disappointment at the delay and concerns that the changes would demote the cycleway as a tourist attraction.
Speaking this week, board chairman Steve Walker said the footpath widening idea was ‘‘not going down well'' in the community with concerns about the proximity of the logging trucks and exposure to debris and dust.
People were saying if completing the cycleway was too expensive, ‘‘don't compromise the quality'' but just complete it to Roseneath.
