Axed bike lane ‘missed opportunity’

The shelving of the Bayswater cycle lane project has disappointed Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chair Toni van Tonder, who says it is a missed opportunity to make cycling to school safer for local children.

The wider benefits of connecting up cycleways across the peninsula were also being lost, she said.

“I’m really unhappy. It’s part of our green route.” Van Tonder said the project, recently deferred by Auckland Transport (AT), was not just a ‘nice to have’ for e-bike riders and recreational cyclists.

It had won backing from local schools, including Bayswater Primary and Takapuna Grammar, and designated funding as a safety initiative under AT’s ‘Vibrant Streets’ programme.

She wanted AT to explain why it was not able to proceed. “Where has the funding gone?”

AT had told the board community consultation would go ahead early this year. She wanted to know why this had not happened.

Board member George Wood, who previously raised concerns about the loss of parking due to the cycle lane, said he did not believe the cycleway project was credible in its current form.

If reactivated, it would need a lot more consultation with the local community before it went ahead, he said.

A memo from AT told board members this month the project was on hold, citing budget cuts.

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SATURDAY 22ND APRIL 10am–3pm

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It’s upstairs through the big red doors (beside Devonport Flowers).

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There will also be an activity station for children. We will be serving coffee, tea and, of course, our favourite Anzac biscuits. If you cannot make it on the day or wish to find out more, call us on 09 445 8938.

Van Tonder accepted that some projects needed to be cut to meet budget and to fund repairs to roads damaged by floods

But she said it was frustrating that a funded project had been put on the backburner.

Auckland Council had declared a climate-change emergency and set policy direction, but council-controlled organisation AT was walking back on commitments to achieve this.

“Projects like this never get full buy-in,” she said. “Some people get angry and they pull the plug.”

She said criticism of the project’s possible impact on parking outside the shops at Belmont was premature. “We don't know how it impacts on parking yet; the design is not finished.”

Initial designs for a bi-directional cycle lane on the south side of Bayswater Ave take it past Bayswater School, but how it integrates at the Lake Rd intersection has not been determined. Parking would have been lost along the length of Bayswater Ave, however.

Concerns have been raised about this by residents and users of sporting facilities at Bayswater Park.

• Waka Kotahi says the Lake Rd project remains in the National Land Transport Plan for implementation. Lake Rd decisions were not delayed pending the choice of harbour crossing, it told the Flagstaff. AT had not responded by deadline to questions about Bayswater Ave funding.

Concrete dropped from new-path plan

A controversial concrete path planned next to “Old Albert” – a historic Moreton Bay fig tree in Windsor Reserve next to Devonport Library – has been scrapped in favour of a more environmentally friendly material. Work started two weeks ago on the path, sparking widespread concern about concrete construction over tree roots.

The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board and Devonport Heritage both lodged concerns with Auckland Council.

Auckland Council area operations manager Sarah Jones said that after a request from the local board, the path material had been changed to a mix like that used on the Queens

Pde and King Edward Pde seaside paths. The mix is shell and hoggin, a limestone-based aggregate

The path was designed and consented in consultation with heritage experts, mana whenua and arborists.

“It will be built raised above the roots of the tree, which has been the plan from the beginning.

“Currently, when people walk across the reserve to access the library, they often track mud into the library. The new path uses an all-weather surface, which will minimise this while also being a great asset for the community,” Jones said.

Bomb found at Narrow Neck Beach

The Defence Force is not planning to look for further munitions after a member of the public found an old explosive on Narrow Neck Beach last Wednesday.

It was a six pound solid-shot projectile. While its origins had not been confirmed, it was of World War II era.

Recent stormy weather could be the reason the item was uncovered last week, a Defence Force spokesman told the Flagstaff.

A section of the beach was cordoned off around 4.30pm t as police called in the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal team to safely dispose of the item, which was

found to be inert.

“NZDF has not found evidence to warrant checking the area for further munitions.”

The explosive was found at the south end of the beach, below Fort Takapuna, former Defence land, where weapons-testing historically occurred. Cliffs slips likely dislodged it.

Anyone finding potentially dangerous items should stay clear and contact the police as soon as possible, the spokesperson said.

“Until items are deemed safe by a subject matter expert, caution should be applied.”