Coughlan gains unanimous support for iconic Wellington cycleway option

An iconic harbourside cycleway from the city to the Eastern Suburbs is now a step closer as Councillors voted unanimously to consider the option in a rethink of Wellington's existing cycleway programme today.

Councillor and Mayoral Candidate Jo Coughlan successfully moved an amendment at the Transport and Urban Development Committee that "a cycleway along Cobham Drive and around the bays to Ngauranga from Miramar, as part of the Great Harbour Way (ie an iconic harbour side cycle way) is considered as part of the refreshed cycleway programme.

“Lessons have been learnt from Island Bay cycleway and councillors are realising that there is a finite amount of money available from Government and we have one shot at getting cycle ways right,” said Coughlan.

“I have been advocating we look at this route alongside existing more piecemeal projects which will deliver less value for cyclists and the city. The money is there but we need to use it wisely.”

The Government has allocated $36.91 million for Wellington and local government a further $15.05 million as part of the Government’s Urban Cycleways Programme in Wellington City and the Hutt Valley.

Coughlan who met with Minister of Transport Simon Bridges in April to discuss Wellington cycle ways and a range of transport issues said she supported cycling but wanted sensible cycle ways.

“I asked the Minister if there was a window of opportunity for Wellington to consider alternative cycleway options and consider these along with public feedback, while retaining critical central government funding. He said there was.”

This was reiterated in the subsequent Morrison Lowe Report commissioned by NZTA in response to NZTA’s concerns around implementation of cycle ways in Wellington.

Council officers will now review the current Urban Cycle Way Programme – with funding currently tagged for Ngauranga to Bunny St ($9.0 million); Central City ($13.5 million and Eastern Suburbs ($6.0 million)

“We have an opportunity to get this right. A thoroughly considered cycleway solution that will work and is iconic, with commuter and tourism values will be a better outcome for the next 100 years than pursuing the current piecemeal approach at any cost,” Coughlan said.

“I am a huge supporter of sensible cycleways. They are great for health, fitness and the environment. However, given the Island Bay experience we need to do much better with our consultation processes and take the community with us.

“It’s great we can now revisit the cycle ways under consideration with a view to finding a better more visionary solution.

“Other global cities have built cycle ways that differentiate their city from others. We have some great natural attributes for off-road cycling which are world-class. We have an opportunity to build an integrated separate around the harbour cycleway network that will become an iconic part of the Wellington landscape over the next century.

“An around harbour cycleway from Miramar to Petone will inspire people to use it.

“Funding is secure for the $54 million Hutt Valley cycleway and resilience project between Petone and Ngauranga. We have an additional $36 million of Government funding to spend. This should be used to complete the route and enhance seawall resilience to Miramar.

“This would be an excellent infrastructure project that we could work with Government on and I would strongly support.

“This work needs to be done if we are to get the best long-term result for Wellingtonians.

“This isn’t about ideology or party politics. We need solutions we can all be proud of for the next 100 years.”

Contact: Councillor Jo Coughlan 021 522 142

Jo Coughlan

Jo Coughlan was elected to council in 2007 and has represented the Onslow Western Ward for three terms. Since re-election in October 2010 she has led the city's Economic Development Strategy as Economic Portfolio Leader and Chair of the Economic Growth and Arts Committee. Jo was a Director of Positively Wellington Tourism, which has now merged into WREDA.

Jo is married and has six children aged 13 to 24. She has a degree in Biochemistry from Otago University.

Jo's business, Silvereye Communications, provides PR and government relations advice to a range of public and private clients both in NZ and offshore.

Prior to establishing her own business, Jo has held senior communications roles in the public and private sector; and worked as a Press Secretary for NZ Foreign Minister Sir Don McKinnon.

Jo Co-Chair’s the New Zealand Chinese Language Week Charitable Trust and Chairs the Life Education Trust Wellington City. Jo has just stepped down, after six years, as Deputy Chair of The National Board of Life Education which provides health education to over 250,000 children nationally with 50 mobile classrooms across 30 trusts nationwide.

In 2015 Jo was a Finalist in two categories in the Westpac Women of Influence Awards. In 2009 she was a Finalist in Wellington's Women in Business - Best New Business Award.

Jo was formerly involved in crèche and kindergarten committees, coached primary school netball for 10 years, and led a fundraising appeal for secondary school rowing.

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