The call came this week from Lake Hawea Community Association chairwoman Cherilyn Walthew, but in a personal capacity.
Tourist operator Rik Deaton had his application for a lakefront reserve commercial licence for his e-bike business turned down by the council’s parks and reserves team last year.
Ms Walthew, noting the council had declared a climate emergency last year, said she had not seen the council do anything to support its climate emergency status and should not be standing in the way of an e-bike business.
"We’ve spent thousands upon thousands on bike tracks.
"Why not get these people [tourists] out on to the tracks?
"Why not get all those cars off our roads?"
Ms Walthew believed Mr Deaton had a "fantastic idea".
"It fits in with the climate emergency; it fits in with the aspirations of the town and the community.
"I just don’t get where they [the council] are going with their strategy because, you know what, they don’t ... have one."
Council senior communications adviser Rebecca Pitts yesterday said the council had made "a lot of progress" implementing its climate action plan.
"Over half of the 76 actions are in progress and have recently undergone a prioritisation review in collaboration with the climate reference group."
The measures so far included updating the district greenhouse gas inventory report, and developing an emissions reduction road map and a carbon sequestration study.
The council was also buying electric vehicles, its carbon emissions were being monitored, and "emissions reduction behaviour" was being promoted with staff, including flexible working, Skype meetings and active transport.
As well, the draft spatial plan, due to be made public early next year, would include sustainability principles and outcomes.
In respect of Mr Deaton’s failed application, council senior parks and reserves planner Aaron Burt said the application went "far beyond" just the hiring of e-bikes.
"It is fundamentally a means to promote his off-site business venture LandEscape Farm by using the recreation reserve as a commercial activation to attract customers to his property and the activities he provides at that property."
The proposal was for a caravan with LandEscape branding, advertising material and booking facilities.
There was also to be a food outlet with tables for 30 people and an additional "foreshore dining area" for about 20 people.
An area was required for bike display, parking and customer practice.
Mr Burt described the operation as a "significant business-related occupation" of the reserve.
The council had offered to discuss the proposal with Mr Deaton but the offer was not taken up.
Mr Deaton yesterday disputed such an offer being made.
He believed the council had made the effects of the business on the lakefront appear "far more intrusive than they are".
"They try to cast all of this as a dramatic visual blight on the foreshore when in fact it will sit very lightly on the reserve in that location."
