Citizens’ panel cycle hearings get under way

The panel of Wellingtonians set up to look at the multiple routes and ways cycling improvements could be made through Berhampore and Newtown will hear from a range people and organisations this week.

Three sessions are planned and the public can sit in and listen if they want to.

Red Design, Cycle Aware Wellington and a Dover Street resident will present to the panel at the first session tomorrow night (Wednesday 25 June, 6–9pm) at Newtown Park function rooms.

The second session on Thursday 26 June, 6–9pm, also in the Newtown Park function rooms, will include presentations by the Friends of the Town Belt, the Island Bay and Berhampore Community Orchard, the City is Ours, Frocks on Bikes and Pedal Ready.

The third session this Saturday 28 June, 10.30am–2.30pm, will be held in the community room on the mezzanine floor of the Central Library. Those presenting include Newtown Residents’ Association, Living Streets Aotearoa, Berhampore businesses, the Newtown Business Group, Mornington Golf Club, local schools and a number of individuals who live in the southern suburbs.

The 18-member citizens’ advisory panel met for the first time on 12 June and its work since then has included touring the Berhampore/Newtown area by van and on foot to take a close look at the streets and places where changes could potentially be made.

There is no preferred or obvious best way to make cycling in this area safer and more appealing but various possibilities are being explored, which all have different pros and cons. These include making changes to Adelaide Road, using other routes via the golf course and streets to the west or east of Adelaide Road and other possible options.

The panel will be hearing a wide range of views and looking at all the options in detail with the aim of reporting back to the Council at the end of July on the ones it thinks the Council should consider for wider consultation with the public. Public consultation is expected to happen in a few months’ time.

Panels like this are a recognised way to get well considered community input to help find solutions in complex situations or projects.

Schedules of presentations and start times, and more information about the citizens’ advisory panel, are available on our website Wellington.govt.nz/cycling

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