Rangiora cycleway deferred to avoid blowout
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
A proposed Rangiora cycleway project has been deferred to avoid a forecast $1.7 million budget blowout.
The Waimakariri District Council has decided not to proceed with the proposed on-road cycleway along Ashley, Ivory and Percival streets, and Southbrook Rd, after staff found during the design stage it could not meet the cost of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s design criteria.
In report presented at Tuesday’s (July 4) council meeting, senior engineering adviser Don Young said the extra safety provisions would require a painted median on a separated cycleway, which had not been allowed for in the original design.
The project was one of four cycleways approved under the government’s Transport Choices funding package.
Young said meeting Waka Kotahi’s design criteria could lead to a budget blowout of up to $1.7 million across the four cycleways.
It was estimated the Rangiora cycleway’s budget would blowout from $745,000 to $1.585m to provide for the extra safety provisions.
"Waka Kotahi has indicated they would rather see us complete three cycleways, than have the entire project fall over," Young said.
"To go ahead would lead to a significant shortfall in funding and the loss of up to 224 car parks.
"We feel it would not be a good step at this stage."
The total budget for all four cycleways had been expected to cost more than $6m, with $4.86m coming from the Transport Choices package and $1m from the Government’s ‘‘Better Off’’ funding.
The council would cover the costs of drainage improvements, additional landscaping and cultural signage.
Waka Kotahi staff had indicated the budget allocated for the Rangiora project could be used to offset the cost over-runs from the other three proposed cycleways, Young said.
Staff were asked to provide a report on options for a revised Rangiora cycleway as part of next year’s 2024-34 long-term plan deliberations.
Young said council staff were due to meet with KiwiRail to discuss issues related to the second proposed Rangiora cycleway at Southbrook.
Pak’nSave management have expressed safety concerns with the proposed route of the Southbrook cycleway, along Railway Rd, due to the number of traffic movements of delivery trucks to the supermarket.
Young said staff planned to meet with Pak’nSave again after the KiwiRail meeting.
The other projects were the Kaiapoi-Woodend and Woodend-Pegasus cycleways.
The four cycleways were chosen following the council’s cycle way network report completed last year.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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