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July 23 - 2013 KAIPARA LIFESTYLER
Streetlights of the future? Cycle trail provides a missing link u by Paul Campbell
u by Rose Rees-Owen
A new energy-saving street lighting system for Kaipara may be on the cards if an experiment underway in Mangawhai is successful.
Co-author of the guide book, Classic New Zealand Cycle Trails, Jonathan Kennett, says the trail from Dargaville to downtown Auckland is the missing link to cycling Northland.
Solar-powered streetlights are being trialled at the intersection of Molesworth Drive and Sunlea Lane, with results being closely monitored. If successful, they could be used elsewhere i n p Solar street-lighting on trial in Mangawhai the district. Cabling under the road and he says. A new battery may installing an extra transformer be needed, perhaps every five could cost $15,000 for a years, and eventually the solar traditional light, so Kaipara panels will need replacing.” If successful, they could District Council chose a solar powered light costing around be used elsewhere, possibly $6,000. It was installed replacing some of the present last month and its power is 1,136 street lights. Other ideas only slightly below a mains- include less power hungry powered light. LED units. Council roading manager, “So far the new light is Henri van Zyl, expects running working well and neighbouring and maintenance costs to be residents are happy with it.” lower than grid electricity, and He is not aware of any other even on dull days the panels solar powered street lights and battery create and store in Northland and expects enough electricity to operate Kaipara’s trial to generate all night. interest when Northland’s four “It has a timer, allowing its councils and the NZ Transport hours to be changed to suit Agency discuss regional summer and winter patterns,” roading issues. ¢
“It provides two needs for cyclists. It’s an adventurous trail and it’s a lot safer than travelling along State Highway One.” The trail, organised by Chris Donahoe and the Kaipara District Council, is 118km long, and heads southwest from Dargaville to the mouth of Kaipara Harbour at Pouto Point. Classed as intermediate in skill level, cyclists have the option of travelling by road or via Ripiro Beach to Pouto Photo: Jonathan Kennett with the latter dependant on the p Cyclist Allan Smith from New York, boards a Shamrock Charters Kaipara tides and weather. boat by ladder to cross the Kaipara Harbour The guidebook warns that Pouto Road is sometimes busy with logging organise to join planned trips, the price reduces but trucks and recommends pulling over when passengers might end up spending the day fishing. both sides of the road are occupied. There When Mr Kennett completed the trail, his group is also a 200 metre section between Red spent four days cycling from Kaitaia to downtown Hills Road and Triangle Road that does not Auckland and he says it’s one of the best. meet New Zealand Cycle Trail safety criteria He meet with local identities including Warren and recommends dismounting. Suckling aka Ernie at the Kumara Box and Jock “Cyclists have just as much right to Wills provided a tour of the Kaipara North Head use the road as motorists and as long as Lighthouse sharing some of it’s history. drivers are courteous then there shouldn’t The trail has the endorsement of the New Zealand be any problems,” says Mr Donahoe. Transport Agency and New Zealand Cycle Trail and Cyclists cross the Kaipara Harbour takes around three days to complete. by boat before continuing to downtown “The hard part is done. Now it’s up to tourism Auckland with two providers, Shamrock operators to promote it,” says Mr Donahoe who plans Charters Kaipara, and Kaipara Cruises to volunteer on the project when he leaves his role accommodating riders. While chartering a as the Kaipara District Council Economic Facilitator. boat is expensive, around $450, if cyclists For more info www.nzcycletrail.com ¢