Pōhara cycleway meeting

Continued from page 1 ...rather than detract. “We want something that’s going to be an asset to the community, not a liability.”

The discussion then broadened out to make a general observation about TDC’s district-wide approach to its cycling strategy which was slated for being implemented without proper stakeholder consultation, and was seemingly ideologically driven rather than being responsive to ratepayers.

The owner of the Top 10 Holiday Park Gene Cooper also expressed disappointment about the lack of engagement by council. “What’s missing is discussion… there’s been no consultation.”

Gene said losing scores of parking spaces along Abel Tasman Drive would not only affect his business but would also create a kind of carmageddon. “People will park all over the place.” He made a plea to the staff responsible for the project. “Council, if you’re going to take away parking, you need to find a solution.” He dismissed the argument that it was illegal to anglepark along that stretch of road, pointing out that, for years, TDC had effectively condoned it through lack of enforcement.

One possible solution, Gene floated, involved moving the campground fence away from Abel Tasman Drive by a few metres to the official boundary line. “Seventy [camping] sites would go if the fence was moved back, so I would expect a conversation.”

He was also amenable to cyclists riding through the campground. “The lease says ‘pedestrian access’ but people come through."

Owner of Molly B’s Amy Mangan’s main concern was for some of her 15 employees.

“Where are they going to park?” She explained that some of her staff were “kids” and so she was supportive of cycleways. “We want our young employees to be able to cycle safely."

Subsequent speakers reiterated many of the previous arguments but made the additional point that projected growth of the Pōhara settlement, combined with an ageing demographic profile, meant that more, not less, car parking would be required.

As Bernie steered the meeting towards its close, he reprised the likely effects of the proposed path on the businesses and residents in Pōhara, concluding: “This proposal is a bad thing for the local community.” He summarised the alternative options discussed, namely relocation of the campground fence to allow for angle parking to continue along Abel Tasman Drive, rerouting the shared path through the campground, creating a new esplanade pathway at the seaward side of the campground, and reducing the speed limit through the township to 20 or 30kmph.

Just before the meeting ended, Dave returned to his key message. “We want TDC to go through the correct process; all they’ve got to do is listen to the people.”