Cycleway rethink saves parks

Public feedback on plans to remove car parks to allow the cycleway around Otago Harbour to be connected to the cycle lanes on Dunedin’s one-way system has prompted a redesign.

The new plans will be revealed at a Dunedin City Council meeting today.

Council transport group manager Richard Saunders said the feedback from public  consultation  was "generally in support" but resulted in changes.

Concerns raised meant  plans to remove 19 car parks near the Dunedin Railway Station would be  changed and the parks would be retained. Originally the council proposed to have a net loss of six car parks,  but the  revised plan was to  remove  between one and five car parks, depending on the findings of a safety audit, he said.

Under the proposed plans, Dundas St would have a "potential loss" of four car parks and Albany St  six. 

Hanover St would gain three car parks and Anzac Ave would gain two, he said.

Ironic Cafe owner Steven Wilson said he was "absolutely over the moon" the council had changed the plan so more car parks would be created near his restaurant in Anzac Ave.

"They have listened to the people ... and I think they’ve got it right."

A new cycleway will be built on Anzac Ave from the Dunedin Railway Station to St Andrew St.

The plans also include  a new path from St Andrew St running beside the  railway line to a new bridge  over the Water of Leith, near the mouth of the river. It would link to  the  shared path along the western side of the harbour.

The council’s infrastructure services and networks committee will  today decide  whether to seek approval to proceed with the preferred option for improvements for the $7 million cycleways project.