The Star: February 01, 2024

The Star Thursday February 1 2024
14
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Bid to reroute Coastal Pathway
• By Dylan Smits
A BID is underway to re-route
the $17.5 million Coastal
Pathway along the edge of some
of the city’s most exclusive
waterfront properties.
But the city council has given a
big hint it won’t happen.
The Reroute Coastal Pathway
Facebook group wants the 6.5km
pathway from Ferrymead to
Scarborough diverted at Beachville
Rd. The pathway currently
diverges from the shoreline near
the Beachville Rd/Main Rd intersection
corner and runs along
the Redcliffs shopping area to
avoid private property.
The Facebook group says it
should take a more direct line
past the waterfront properties
which are sited on Beachville
and Main Rds.
However, city
council transport
planning
and delivery
manager Jacob
Bradbury said
there are currently
no plans
Jacob
Bradbury
to develop the
proposed route
and no work
has been done to investigate its
viability.
“Other estuary-front projects
have had significant challenges,
particularly related to consents
and constructability,” he said.
“When the Coastal Pathway
was first endorsed back in 2013
this was considered. However,
property ownership issues meant
this option was ruled out.”
The key driver for the Facebook
group’s Estuary Edge route
is to “avoid the danger of people
stepping out from (Redcliffs)
shops into the path of cyclists”.
More than 300 people have
joined the group since it was created
last week.
The people behind the Facebook
group have not responded
to The Star.
The Christchurch Coastal
Pathway Group, which was a key
player in the development of the
pathway, is not talking about the
alternate route.
Group chair Hanno Sander
refused to comment, saying “we
have many other things we are
working on right now.”
Another group has also
formed over the issue.
The Coastal Access Group
is researching what rights the
public and private landowners
on Beachville Rd and Main Rd
have to the shoreline where the
CYCLEWAY: The Coastal Pathway runs past the Redcliffs
shops to avoid private property. There are calls for it to be
rerouted along the water’s edge (above).
pathway diverges.
Said group spokesman Pete
Franklin: “Our goal is really
purely to finally get some legal
clarification and to work with
council.”
He said his group has no
position on whether an alternate
route should be created.
“We’re trying to take a very
bipartisan approach to this. It’s
really trying to be respectful to
those property owners and respectful
to the community who
believe they are stakeholders in
that strip of land.”
The group will meet with city
council staff to discuss the legal
issues.
“There has been a bit of a
groundswell in the local community
getting quite excited about
HAVE YOUR SAY:
What do you think
about an alternate
route for the
Coastal Pathway?
Send your views in
200 words or less
to dylan.smits@
starmedia.kiwi
rerouting,” Franklin said.
“Unfortunately, it would be a
huge undertaking.”
Redcliffs Pharmacy owner
Daryl Sayer said he is neutral
on the issue but questioned the
practicality of the idea due to the
potential cost.
Redcliffs resident Hannah Fox
often cycles on the pathway and
walks with her baby. She believes
an alternate route would be
beneficial.
“I personally would love it,
because I love the idea of being
on the coast.”
In an effort to address the
safety concerns on Main Rd,
Bradbury said additional
markings at the street’s corner
have already been painted
informing cyclists of a slow zone.
Bespoke, Upscale & Personalised Care
The reassurance of quality is built into everything we do at The Russley. The Ashley Care Suites set a new standard
of care. We sought to provide a care offering and environment that was exceptional. Creating a beautiful residence
from which tailored and meaningful care could be delivered, overlaid with an upscale hospitality offering
73 ROYDVALE AVENUE, CHRISTCHURCH 03 357 9392 RUSSLEYVILLAGE.CO.NZ