$27m ‘mountains to sea’ cycle trail proposed from Arthur’s Pass, but kept ‘secret’

Saturday, 13 July 2024

Selwyn is investigating the feasibility of a $27 million cycleway from Arthur’s Pass to the east coast. (File photo)

A proposed $27 million cycle trail from Arthur’s Pass to the sea is anticipated to boost Selwyn’s economy by millions.

Businesses are excited by the prospect, but the council has kept many details - including potential routes and the ultimate price tag - under wraps, prompting concern from some elected members.

The Waikirikiri Alpine to Ocean Trail, also known as the Mountains to Sea Cycleway, has been quietly on the cards for years.

It was first pitched in 2009 in a bid to scoop up the then-Government’s Alps 2 Ocean funding, but showed up again in the council’s long-term plan 2024-34 as a trail from Arthur’s Pass to Canterbury’s east coast.

The cycleway is pitched to start in Arthur’s Pass. (File photo)

A council working group has, in public-excluded workshops, discussed at least three sections: the $12m alpine section (Arthur’s Pass to Springfield), the $10m plains section (Springfield to West Melton) and the $5m lake section (around Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere). A feasibility study is expected to be completed in August.

Under the previous long-term plan, $10m was set aside for the plains section to connect Springfield, Sheffield, Darfield, Kirwee and West Melton.

Another $5m was earmarked in the latest long-term plan towards planning the alpine and lake sections.

Mayor Sam Broughton motioned, during deliberations in May, to approve the $5m spend and it passed by majority vote.

Councillors Lydia Gliddon, Grant Miller, Bob Mugford, Elizabeth Mundt and Debra Hasson voted against budgeting the $5m, over concerns about a lack of transparency and poor consultation.

But councillor Sophie McInnes urged the chamber to be bold. She is in the cycleway working group with councillors Hasson, Gliddon, Mugford, Nicole Reid and Broughton.

McInnes said the $5m was “a carrot” they needed to lure in potential co-funders like the NZ Transport Agency / Waka Kotahi.

“Trust me, it’s an amazing benefit-cost ratio,” McInnes said. She later conceded the long-term plan consultation document should have been “clearer” about the cycleway and included the $27m proposed cost.

The average economic contribution of users of Great Rides Trails across Aotearoa was about $960 per person, according to a 2023 survey run by New Zealand Cycle Trail Monthly. South Canterbury’s Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail was even more successful with an estimated economic contribution of $1900 per cyclist.

During deliberations, Gliddon said 20,000 people were predicted to use Selwyn’s trail. If so, the district could see $19m injected into its economy each year - a 25% increase from its current tourism yield of $53m.

Deputy mayor Malcolm Lyall said Selwyn wanted “some of that [cycle tourism] pie if we can”.

The owners of Sheffield Pies Ben and Jo Holmes. He said a cycle trail from Arthurs Pass to the east coast ocean was a “great idea”. “Let’s get started,” he said.

Owner of The Famous Sheffield Pie Shop, Ben Holmes, could not be keener on the cycle trail idea - suggesting he’d be willing to take some pies to the council if that helped make it happen.

Central Otago businesses were reaping the gains of rail trails there, so “it’s about time we had something up here”, he said.

“The scenery is spectacular… It’s one of the best drives in the country. With electric bikes, no trail would be a hurdle. We’d love to support cyclists with a mince-and-cheese pie. Let’s get started.”

Arthur’s Pass Cafe and Store owner Sean Moran endorsed the “great idea”, but had concerns about the council’s process and communication.

He said Castle Hill where he lives was already a “mountain riding Mecca”. “They [the council] need to put their concept on the table.”

Gliddon said there was no question the trail would benefit the district, but making a decision on something that would cost millions without giving the community any costing or route information during consultation was wrong.

“If we think this is such a good idea, and we really want to progress with it, why are we hiding it?

Councillor Lydia Gliddon says the council isn’t being transparent about the cycleway. (File photo)

“This is why people get so mad at councils. Why can’t we be clear? We’re dealing with other people’s money.”

The council’s executive director for development and growth, Robert Love, said there had been consultation during the council’s previous two long-term plans.

Selwyn District Council deputy mayor Malcolm Lyall says the cycleway would bring millions of dollars in to the district.

The consultation document had limited information, so if the public wanted to find out more it was up to them to search through the council’s supporting documents or ask questions at consultation events, the council said.

Love said “it would be inappropriate to share any information until the feasibility study is completed” and a preferred route chosen, to avoid “raising hopes”.

But Hasson said earmarking $5m without meaningful community consultation was wrong.

“To the public, it’s a secret.”

Lyall did not agree there was a lack of consultation as there was not anything strong enough to present to the public yet. He said once feasibility studies were complete, then it would be time to ask the community for their perspectives.