Monday 18 November 2013

Public invited to name 13 key cycleways

Canterbury people are being invited to suggest names for each of the 13 key cycleway routes to be built in the city over the next five years.

“It’s not every day you get the opportunity to put your signature on a major piece of the city’s infrastructure but that is exactly what the Council is doing by offering people the chance to nominate names for this important network of cycleways, “ says Councillor Phil Clearwater, chairman of Christchurch City Council’s Environmental Committee. 

Construction of the $68.3 million network is expected to take five years, with Christchurch City Council allocating $34.5 million to the project and other improvements in the Three Year Plan 2013-16, with the remainder falling in the following two years. The network of connected cycleways will link suburbs, education, business and shopping areas as well as popular recreational destinations.

“The development and construction of the cycleways is a significant investment in our city’s transport infrastructure that will shape the way future generations get around our city. We want people to feel part of the process,” Mr Clearwater says.

“As work progresses on the detailed planning for the individual routes, we will be talking to the community and various agencies and stakeholders to get a sense of how they want us to proceed and any issues they identify,” he adds.

The Council’s Acting Manager Asset and Network Planning Ron Clarke says the focus for now is on ensuring extensive preliminary work is done before construction begins.

“It is essential we have a good plan to ensure a smooth and consistent roll-out of this work. We need to consider things such as other infrastructure work along the routes as well as doing geotechnical assessments where necessary.”

Work on some portions of the major cycleways is expected to begin in the early part of 2014.

In the meantime, Mr Clearwater is encouraging people to take up the opportunity to make their mark on the project.

“Canterbury is home to some very talented and creative people so we expect to see a range of ideas coming forward,” the Environment Committee Chairman says. “These might reflect the history of a particular area a route passes through, its natural features or a personality of note.”

Name suggestions will be considered by a judging panel to determine finalists. A public vote will help determine the winning name for each route, with the final decision to be made by the Council.

As an incentive, there is a prize of a new bike and helmet package for the person whose name is selected for each of the 13 routes. If there are multiple, separate entries that nominate a name that is later chosen for the route, a draw will be held to determine the nominating entrant who claims the prize.

Name suggestions must be received by 5pm on 12 January, 2014.

Listen to Newstalk ZB and Classic Hits for regular updates on the competition.

For terms and conditions and to submit a name, go to www.futurechristchurch.co.nz

About the cycleways:

The Christchurch Transport Strategic Plan adopted by the Council in 2012 includes 13 connected cycleways as part of the 30-year vision for transport options in Christchurch. The network will connect suburbs, education, shopping and business as well as recreation areas and provide another option for getting around the city.

The cycleways will be built over five years at a cost of $68.3 million, based on 2012 costings.

The Christchurch City Three Year Plan 2013-16 set aside $34.5 million for the project and other improvements, with the remainder of funding allocated in the following two years.

The look and feel of the new cycleways is set out in the Cycle Design Guidelines, which were adopted by the Council in April 2013.

Construction is expected to begin as soon as Council staff have completed detailed design work, determined specific routes, discussed options with stakeholders and conducted appropriate consultation with affected communities.

For more about the cycleways, go to www.ccc.govt.nz/cycleways

ENDS

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