Many of the more than 300 submissions to the Dunedin City Council’s draft annual plan are about the tunnels trail project, which could be accelerated if councillors boost the cycleways budget.
A public hearing about council spending starts today.
Other issues to be discussed include how funding set aside for a destination playground should be spent, design of bus stops and concern about safety of routes to Portobello School.
The council’s draft budget for 2022-23 includes an overall rates rise of 6.5% and an increase of more than $15million in expenditure to $341million.
Proposed spending is broadly in line with what was agreed in the 2021-31 long-term plan, which featured a substantial increase in capital expenditure.
However, councillors were forced to adjust a programme of cycleways spending when cost estimates turned out to be well astray.
The council signalled in February it would increase the 10-year budget by $11.4million, make accelerated development of the trail from Dunedin to Mosgiel a priority to get the work done in one hit, rather than in stages, and put on hold other planned work in the city.
Most people making submissions have backed that approach.
The Dunedin Tracks Network Trust said the trail would enable Dunedin to link up with a network of cycle trails across Otago.
The Dunedin Tunnels Trail Trust urged the council to allow work to begin on sections of the trail immediately.
If approved by the council and a subsidy from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is confirmed, a 15km cycle and walking trail will be created, using two railway tunnels built in the 1870s.
The Chain Hills and Caversham tunnels were redundant by 1911 and the vision includes reopening them for walkers, cyclists, scooter riders, commuters and tourists.
The council is looking to spend $6.5million to upgrade playgrounds and skate parks by mid-2024.
A series of submitters asked for playgrounds at Marlow Park, Woodhaugh Gardens and Mosgiel Memorial Gardens to be upgraded, at an expected cost of $4million to $6million.
They preferred this to the creation of one destination playground in the city.
Portobello School board of trustees chairwoman Emily Larkins said children did not have safe routes to and from school.
"Narrow roads and dangerous intersections, the lack of marked crossings, blind approaches to the school from both ends, and a car park sited directly on the roadside make choosing the safest route difficult," she said.
"Many parents, myself included, feel that they have no choice but to drive their children to school, because it’s not safe for their children to walk or cycle."
Dunedin Tramways Union co-president Peter Dowden said the council had recently begun a programme to improve 50 of the city’s most dangerous or inaccessible bus stops.
However, poorly-designed bus stops were often reinstated after roadworks were carried out and not improved, he said.
The annual plan process is a chance for some groups to put forward ideas or bring the council up to speed with planned projects.
The Broad Bay Boating Club said its planned rebuild of the facility was about to start and the project needed "targeted support".
Dunedin Gymnastic Academy has requested a $30,000 grant to help with investigating and designing a new facility.
It has operated from "basic industrial warehouse buildings".
The academy hopes to build a new facility in 2023-24 and has a short list of possible locations.
Dunedin Rotary is considering a major upgrade of Rotary Park on the Otago Peninsula, which might include play equipment and wind turbines to power barbecues.
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Comments
Well overdue! If promoting cycling / alternative transport is truly a priority for DCC then making greater Dunedin flat via the tunnel tracks should be at the top of the list.
Mosgiel, Fairfiled, Green Island, Abbotsford, Kaikorai, Brighton area. Currently commute from these places to the city center requires non-trivial level of fitness or expensive ebike, no wonder only few enthusiasts adopt it.
Tunnels already exist, located near existing cycle routes, access to them is secured and they are structurally sound, all you need to do is set up lighting, apply some gravel here and there and OPEN them! Practical, health, heritage & tourism benefits are overwhelming compared to the cost of doing so.
A cherry on top is almost uninterrupted trail network from Dunedin center to the Lakes/Queenstown in longer term
Redundant by 1911? Which tunnels did the Dunedin suburban, or Invercargill express, go through in 1960?
That was when the double track deviation opened. The expresses went down the same track as they do now
1911/1914 the two replacement (dual track) tunnels were opened due to the volume of rolling stock, and the original single track tunnels were decommisioned for rail. People had been using the Caversham tunnel from 1910 through to 2006 as a walkway/cycleway until gated shut by DCC.
More waste from a myopic council. Not content with the about $100 million already spent on bike tracks in Dunedin, this pampered group of hobbyists now expect ratepayers to find another 15 - 20 million for the next little step.
Lets check some actual facts: This council has already lumbered future ratepayers with record debt and rate rises. This council struggles to find money for any other sports or recreation. Most, if not all the bike path projects have run over budget.
Sorry, but the bike user collective are simply greedy and self centered. No amount of spending will ever be enough for this tiny group.
How about $20 million for the junior cricket clubs of Dunedin?
If the council has anything to do with this our rates will go through the roof this will cost multi millions of dollars.
Big fan of cycling, with electric bikes getting cheaper and more popular it is a great option for travel around any city. However, I really don't understand the business case for this particular idea. What is the the target market ?
For cycling to be popular we need safe, high demand routes. Building dedicated routes in the center of cities integrated with the major mass transport options is the model successful cities adopting cycling follow.
In Dunedin's case that would be cars. So building park and rides around the periphery of the central city with such routes would create the largest take up. Building safe cycling infrastructure further out should start at the school gates. Intermediates first. They are literally the future.
Target market is 30,000+ people who would have a safe option to commute between Mosgiel/Green Island/Dunedin. This would also allow school children to commute Green Island/Abbotsford to Mosgiel, or into the city. The school catchment area of the tunnel impacts over 4000 pupils. Park'n'ride hubs are planned and this would potentially integrate with one on Kaikorai Valley Rd.
I hope these 30000+ are going to be taking their raincoats they will need them in the tunnels where it's dripping water 24/7 365 days a year.