A cycling and walking masterplan, unveiled to the public by the Active Transport Wanaka Collective this week, showed potential cycle routes throughout the town and even to the airport and Glendhu Bay.
The $6 million proposal plans to build both on- and off-road cycleways, which would be sealed or unsealed depending on traffic volume and suitability, as well as three underpasses.
It was suggested the underpasses be built at the corner of Aubrey Rd and Anderson Rd, the intersection where SH6 and SH84 meet, as well as outside Three Parks on SH84, where a new roundabout is set to be built.
The collective is made up of Queenstown Lakes deputy mayor Calum MacLeod and councillor Quentin Smith, spokesman for Wanaka schools Andrew Howard, Wanaka Community Board member Rachel Brown, Bike Wanaka’s Simon Telfer and Quartz Development’s Matt Laming. Mr Telfer led the presentation to around 130 community members and said while the plans were in their infancy, the collective wanted to get something on paper and start the process.
He believed that with the new school set be built in Three Parks in the coming years, the priority was safe routes for children to get across the state highway to school, the recreation centre and swimming pool.
Mr Howard, chairman of the Wanaka Primary School board of trustees, said the vast majority of the 2000 schoolchildren in the district wanted to bike or walk to school, but many did not do so at present.
"The main reason for that is safety. If we can get all of our children using the cycleways and walkways, that creates encouragement for the whole family [to also do so]," he said.
Mr MacLeod said the hope was for the "school to pool" route to be completed in five years.
Anderson Rd was also brought under the microscope.
Mr MacLeod and Cr Smith said they believed all parking would be removed from the street in the future so traffic could flow more smoothly.
Cr Smith said funding had been allocated to an active transport network for Wanaka in the council’s current annual plan, as well in the Wanaka transport strategy.
Funding would be targeted during the council’s draft 10-year plan proceedings early next year, but it was vital the voice of the community was heard.
"The pieces are starting to fall into place, but money is going to be the one where we need the community to come on board."
The proposal will go out for public consultation in March or April next year.
- Sean Nugent
