WDC draft plans for Onerahi/Raumanga cycle/walkway 2014/2015

Are you referring to the transition if coming down Onerahi Hill into CBD, then trying to get to other side of road to cycle path? If so how could this be done?

I quite like it too. My preference would be more separation with the walkway\cycleway at the toe of the embankment.

I guess where there is room on the grass berm there will be separation from the main carriageway - ie from Brook Road to the boat sheds?

I prefer no painted separation between cyclists and peds - let us be citizens and re-store the essential art of cooperation!

The bridge crossings - does the WDC have plans to upgrade these? I thought I heard that? Maybe this is a temporary 2.5m dedunk/dedunk/dedunk solution until then?

If one is cycling down Onerahi Hill where is the best place to join the new cycleway? ie transition.

If one is cycling from Memorial Drive - on the road - how is it best to join the new facility? Go around the roundabout?

Myles, would WDC consider mini-roundabouts at the Mackesey, Brook, Awaroa River Roads - and a 60kph speed limit? Traffic-calming, amenity-building and safer!

Is there a chance of a conversation around a boardwalk from this track to join the Waimahanga track? There is headroom under the bridge at the bottom of Onerahi Hill for a track to pass underneath linking a boardwalk alongside the creek....rather than up Old Onerahi Road to Waimahanga Road, down and then up again.
(Acknowledgements to Pete Maguire for these ideas :-)

Is there a chance of promoting a ped\cyclist safety-review of the 4-lane section of Riverside Drive? This has always been the highest priority for a number of regular cyclists yet has not made the radar yet?

Thanks Myles for getting the conversation going!! Strength to you!

I support all the suggestions Paul has made above.

How about ta similar arrangemnt as the path at the Town basin (riverside drive) opp the end of dundas stt
ie an Intermittant steel barrier (instead of planters )seperating the 80 k/hr rd from the counterflow cycle path (much more protection from out of control cars/trucks and maybe some protection from loose bits flying off vehicles (All of these happen n too frequently along there there would be room fro maybe a 2.5 meter cycleway on top of the berm and another 2.5m walkway at the toe of the berm. this could avoid raising the causeway as much avoid need fro safety fence.
The bridges could have a floating board walk to for walkers as well as the cyclist cantilevers. the walking path could be lime chip or someother surface that is much cheaper but good for walking on.There could be room for planting onthe path side of the barrier.

Hey guys. Have been following with interest. Really keen on the boardwalk idea from Riverside Road across the mangroves to Waimahanga if not now definitely in the future as proposed by Jeremy Busck and Paul. This will really put us on the map and draw people to ride even more. Have spoken to many people and everyone is keen on the idea. Be better way of spending money then concreting the Waimahanga which is adequate as it is with fine gravel. Love the section joining Beach Road to waimahanga, really exciting stuff. Well done everyone for your input. That section from Onerahi along riverside is going to be a cycle highway I reckon!! Great stuff

FYI when I asked why either concrete/asphalt for Waimahanga track I was told "the track surface needs to be family friendly, to allow for tricycles, skates, rollerblades etc". I'm not sure where this requirement came from.

I guess roller-blades and skates would find it difficult on lime chip but is that level of service for the whole network desirable?? cost effective??. I was interested to see that much of the Hawkes Bay network is in lime chip which is certainly suitable for small bikes and the Raurimu and Onerahi schools both have lime chip cycle paths. Wells park in Albany has had family friendly lime chip paths for at least 12 years. It can be spread graded and rolled with out having formed edges. which makes it cheap to lay and very cheap to maintain as every now and again a grade and rolling would be fine. It has the advantage of being easier to see in the moon lit nights. is much better to walk on than concrete.and after all the majority of users will still be walkers. I say If Boswell's track needs anything at all then use lime-chip and use the money saved for the bridges and the Riverside paths.
I totally support Jeremy Busck's idea of the path sweeping in a curve directly to Waimahnga Rd rather than the deviation up around old Onerahi rd to Waimanga Rd. For a cycle way to serve commuters then it needs to give comparative advantages to Cyclists over road.
I still favour linking the Sea cadets/Mariners/Scouts Rowing clubs on Pohe island with a crossing to the wave and Waka. this would again give a comparative advantage to cycle commuters.
If its' not feasible then the next best option would be to cross the bridge as proposed at the foot of the Onerahi hill then foll the edge of the Waimahanga stream below the childcare centre to Waimahanga Rd the path could be extended benath the bridge and up the other side to provide a safe crossing under. this could be the start of a futur link upstream to join the paper Rd linking Cartwright and Old Parua Bay RD and the Waimahanga walkway.

Being environmentally minded, whilst I hear the call for a smooth surfaced cycle/walkway it is not environmentally friendly or responsible. We need more permeable surface not less. To concrete the Waimahanga Track would also be a sacrilege, take away its charm and be less of a dog walking friendly track. Beside that a hard impact surface is bad for runners and joggers, I genuinely suspect that all the wheelers using it will be bicycle and buggies with fat tyres. Let's not spoil its natural charm, stay away from the concrete jungle effect., preserve the beauty of Whangarei and the reason we don't live in Auckland or any other concrete jungle.
I still believe the Whangarei to Waimahanga stretch can be imaginative, kept away from the traffic interface and wend its way through the mangrove to meet up with the Waimahanga track.
As for connecting to it from different points, I am sure with a little imagination that can be accommodated.
I implore those advising council to ask for a board walk around Beach Road, from the Yacht club to the Sea Scout's club, it will be a winner with locals and visitors alike.
As for the Pohe Island loop cycle /walk way which I have been pushing for almost two decade, I say to Council "I told you so", it is a winner, I am so pleased to see it well used, its success can only be proof positive that this kind of investment is of great benefit to our community.Let us build on its success!

Lastly, WOW! after well over decade of pushing for a cycle /walk passage up the railway passage to Hikurangi, and Wayne Davidson saying " it can't be done", the reality of it happening is looking more positive now more than ever.

Jeremy Busck makes a lot of sense. Save the money from the concreting of Waimahanga and use it for a boardwalk across the mangroves to Riverside road. The 2 bridges on Waimahanga DO have to be rebuilt / replaced however and thats going to happen.
The connection of Waimahanga track to Riverside road is more important I think. We could really create something amazing here. A ride or walk across mangrove areas would be unique - an added bonus for schools who would use it for study of mangrove eco systems.

Jeremy also alluded to the other end of Beach Rd to the Scout den area (The forgotten end). This is the most dangerous area for pedestrians with narrow/blind corners but also the best area for birdlife and expansive harbour views. A lot of thought needs to be put into this and a combination approach is the best I think.
Possibilities:
Boardwalks as Jeremy suggested (could this be the answer along wall with steep drops?)
Further along a track could run along the shore starting from the Puriri arch (you know the one) and following past the Scout Den connecting up with the other end of Beach Rd
Create a better connection to the track already created by Brian McLachlan's PD workers and then continue the full length of Beach Rd to he Heads Rd and expand existing footpath up the hill to Hammer hardware, creating another loop.

A further loop on the Church Rd could be created just past the Scout Den up to the Lions lookout through the native plantings done by Brian and OCCLAG
In summary:
Lots can be done and there is plenty of interest, all we need is coordination and face to face meetings. There are some exciting prospects ahead.

Agree with Jeremy and have posted a mesage on Loomio. Is it time for a face to face meeting with all the Loomio people and other interested in the walk/cycleway? There is a lot of goodwill out there ready to be harnessed.

Mark