A suggestion that an already-deferred Otago Peninsula cycleway project might mss out on future funding has upset Peninsula Community Board deputy chairwoman Christine Garey.
Ms Garey was commenting on a report to the peninsula board's meeting this week that notes the previously signalled deferral of the next step of the cycleway, roading and pedestrian upgrades on Portobello Rd and Harington Point Rd.
The 2011-12 $1.4 million Vauxhall to Burns Point section of the project has been deferred by the Dunedin City Council because the project did not secure a $910,000 New Zealand Transport Agency subsidy.
The report from transportation operations programme engineer Michael Harrison warns the project's chance of qualifying for subsequent years' NZTA subsidies was "marginal" because of funding criteria.
The road risked not being considered a severe enough safety risk.
Ms Garey said she wished road accident data included "near misses" because there were plenty of them on the peninsula.
She reiterated comments made at Tuesday's speed limit review hearings committee regarding the negative publicity that would result from tourist road deaths on the peninsula.
Chairman John Bellamy suggested emphasising the Otago Peninsula's heavy tourist traffic as a reason to fund the project.
Ms Garey was concerned about the 2011-12 deferral, asking Mr Harrison how it happened when the community board had thought the project qualified.
Mr Harrison replied the project somehow "dropped out" of NZTA's regional land transport plan for 2009-12.
Ms Garey said she wished to ensure such a thing never happened again when "we think something will happen and it does not".
The Dunedin City Council might make up the funding shortfall in future years, Mr Harrison said.
