Wairoa cycleway information session today

An information session about the cycleway will be held at Waimarino Water and Adventure Park today, Sunday March 12 from 2pm - 5pm. Photo: Supplied.



A community drop-in session is being held at Waimarino Water and Adventure Park today to discuss work on the last 800m of Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway at Wairoa river.

Construction of the last 800m of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway will enable safe cycling on the narrow strip of State Highway 2 between Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem, according to Tauranga City Council.

This information session is at Waimarino Water and Adventure Park, 36 Taniwha Place, Bethlehem from 2pm-5pm today Sunday, March 12.

Council staff will be there to chat about the project with the public, who can also check out the design.

For more information, see: www.tauranga.govt.nz/exploring/transportation-and-roads/transportation-projects/wairoa-cycleway

8 comments

Poor consultation, based on what I hear

Posted on 12-03-2023 14:56 | By waiknot

It’s a shame local Māori weren’t consulted before the bridge was built considering some of their land will be required to complete the cycle track.


Continuing saga

Posted on 12-03-2023 18:14 | By Kancho

I have in my mind that the cycle lane on the bridge was on the wrong side as the local iwi objected to the cycleway on that side.? Then a plan to have traffic lights so cyclists can cross to get from the other side over to the bridge cycleway? . All crazy stuff if true and a disaster for the already traffic jammed road morning and night. All bad news for the Labour shelved Northern link that was supposed to be four lane to Omokora and proper motorway slip lanes. So another roundabout instead and while thousands extra homes and two schools planned for Omokora. GRID LOCK,


About time

Posted on 12-03-2023 19:10 | By mtbrepairman

What an ignorant comment! From what I hear "local Maori" blocked the original plan. So the bridge was built on SH2. But "local Maori" didn't want it going past their Marae entrance. So now it has to be built on the opposite side of the road. Meanwhile us cyclists have had to ride down the wrong side of the road with motorists flashing their lights and even swerving towards us


Actually mtbrepairman

Posted on 12-03-2023 22:51 | By waiknot

The cycle way as planned needs local Māori land, not in front. Māori as any property owner would expect to have at the minimum consulted and their agreement found before the cycle bridge was built.


@mtbrepairman

Posted on 13-03-2023 07:48 | By Kancho

Interesting. As a former cyclist I would actually be happier riding facing on coming traffic as I can see the vehicles rather than have them approach from behind that I can't see. I always thought traffic coming close to me I would rather see them approach than not . Bit like as a pedestrian when cyclists , mobility scooters, etc pass from behind gives me a shock not knowing they were there.


Confirmation

Posted on 13-03-2023 12:09 | By Kancho

Looking at the plan it supports the notion that this has been a planning cockup from the beginning


Some background

Posted on 13-03-2023 20:22 | By mtbrepairman

For those who may not have followed this saga: https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/281431-no-movement-on-wairoa-cycleway.html


It's sad.

Posted on 14-03-2023 12:41 | By morepork

So often we see Maori cast as the villains when, really, the problem was lack of consultation and understanding of the iwi objections. A proper and fair solution for motorists, cyclists, and iwi COULD have been arranged, but council seem to see true discussion as "weakness". They seem to think it undermines their authority if the adopted solution was not from THEIR planners. Their planners are often wrong, not because they are stupid or incompetent, but because decisions are made without proper consideration of all of the viewpoints invovled. It shouldn't be about WHO'S right; it should be about WHAT's right. Maori have the same right to consideration as ANY OTHER landowner.


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