Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich’s casting vote was required after councillors yesterday voted 7-7 on scrapping the Albany St Connection Project, which included installing a cycleway and the removal of dozens of carparks near the University of Otago.
Local business owners have slated the project, some saying the Dunedin City Council failed to fully consult on the project design, scale and timing of roadworks.
The project aimed to provide a safe walking and cycling connection between the shared Te Aka Ōtākou harbour path, Dunedin’s tertiary area and the CBD and was timed to align with the resealing of Albany St.
The vote’s outcome could have been different if Cr Jim O’Malley had not stood aside following legal advice after he publicly criticised businesses involved in the project’s consultation process.
Leith St Liquor owner Chris Hart said the vote’s result was a relief.
"It was never about the cycleways, it was the process, and the way they went about it."
He had previously raised concerns public consultation on the project, promised last year by the council, had not been
carried out.
The council’s attitude towards retailers near the student quarter had been "tone-deaf".
"They did not take into account the loss of the carparks, and the resulting issues that it would cause the area. They just displayed a lack of respect for ratepayers, it was truly just remarkable."
Asked whether the vote would affect who he would support in council elections, Mr Hart said: "I can think of seven [councillors] who are still tone-deaf".
Mr Radich said the proposal to remove 48 carparks for the project was "unacceptable" and the council needed to return to an overall plan for the tertiary precinct which included the community’s needs.
A mode shift away from vehicles should be made with public support, not imposed, and it was inappropriate to force significant changes such as cycleways, he said.
Mr Radich said he did not believe "speculation" about NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi removing $1.5 million in co-funding from the project if it was delayed again.
Cr David Benson-Pope said continuing the Albany St project was a "no-brainer" and a significant amount of work had already been completed.
Cr Steve Walker said he was tired of cycleways and pedestrian safety being a "whipping boy".
"Don’t be surprised if the NZTA starts walking away from this city," he said.
"We’ll just simply be seen as not a reliable partner and guess what, there’s a lot of willing partners out there across the motu."
Cr Brent Weatherall said the project was over-engineered and had been on "shaky ground".
He said he wanted simpler traffic-calming measures in the area and more carparks created.
Cr Cherry Lucas said affected property owners were "resigned" to the project.
Concerns about NZTA funding were a "red herring" and should not be the deciding factor in council’s decision making, she said.
Council legal adviser Michael Garbett said Mr Radich’s comments related to council procedure and there was no indication on conflict.
The vote
That the council does not support the proposed changes to traffic and parking controls associated with the Albany St Connection Project.—
For (7): Crs Bill Acklin, Carmen Houlahan, Cherry Lucas, Lee Vandervis, Brent Weatherall, Andrew Whiley, Mayor Jules Radich.
Against (7): Crs Sophie Barker, David Benson-Pope, Christine Garey, Kevin Gilbert, Marie Laufiso, Mandy Mayhem, Steve Walker.
Cr Jim O’Malley sat back from the discussion and vote following legal advice.
The motion was passed 8-7 on Mr Radich’s casting vote.
