News in brief
Society looks at route for Pohara to Takaka cycleway
A route for a new cycleway connecting Pohara and Takaka is to be fully investigated by the Golden Bay Cycle and Walkway Society.
At its AGM on 20 June at the Community Centre, attended by about 40 members, the society fully adopted the motion by committee member Hans Stoffregen that they investigate, plan and implement a walkway and cycleway that would link the “eastern suburbs” of Golden Bay – namely Tata Beach, Ligar Bay and Pohara – to Takaka township, connecting somewhere in the vicinity of Golden Bay High School.
There’s no doubt that the main motive is to facilitate safe commuting and recreational cycling between these two now equally populated parts of Golden Bay.
“Cycling Abel Tasman Drive can be a downright dangerous experience,” says Hans. “It’s narrow with lots of fast-flowing traffic. Both drivers and cyclists have little room to move. It’s not a pleasant situation to be involved in, especially if you’re the vulnerable one.”
The newly formed subcommittee (Peter Orange, Steve Garrett, Alan Russell, Greg Napp and Hans Stoffregen) will now come up with a feasibility study to consider all possible options that could connect Takaka to the existing formed walkway and cycleway path coming from Pohara, the latter currently ending by the Golf Club at Boyle St, not far from Clifton Cemetery.
“At this stage it looks like the shortest route will be through Nees Road and Rototai, but we’ll make sure we’ll investigate all alternatives. After that we’ll develop a preliminary proposal covering the recommended route, estimate of costs and proposed way forward for further consideration by the society within four months’ time. Our focus will be to provide for safe bicycle commuting and recreational cycling away from heavy traffic, as well as to enhance Golden Bay as a tourist destination.”
Another of the society’s ongoing projects is the Paynes Ford to Takaka cycleway, which they hope to finish in six months or so.
Comments society president Phil Castle: “The Pohara to Takaka route is a considerably larger project than the Paynes Ford to Takaka cycleway, which we’re nearing completion on now. But there’s no doubting there’s a lot of enthusiasm for this latest idea from within our society.”
Gerard Hindmarsh
New books at the library
Non-fiction
William & Catherine: Their Lives, Their Wedding by Andrew Morton.
My Time: How to make the rest of life the best of life by Joan Baker & Mandy Fealy. What every baby boomer needs to know about living life to the full.
Classic New Zealand Road Rides by Jonathan Kennett and Kieran Turner.
Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides by Simon, Jonathan and Paul Kennett.
Great Speeches: Words that shaped the world edited by Edward Humphreys.
New Natural Home by Dominic Bradbury.
Fiction
A Conspiracy of Friends by Alexander McCall Smith. A Corduroy Mansions Novel.
Heartwood by Belva Plain. A return to the beloved world of Evergreen.
To Love and to Cherish by Lyn Andrews. How great a distance can love survive?
Untold Story by Monica Ali. A novel about family and friendship, intrigue and obsession and the peculiar calamity of fame.
Spiral by Paul McEuen. A deadly secret, a biological super-weapon, a world on the verge of extinction.
Hanging Hill by Mo Hayder. A new terrifying thriller.
Draft Abel Tasman foreshore plan open for comment
The public is invited to make submissions on an Abel Tasman Foreshore Scenic Reserve Draft Management Plan released today (8 June) that contains proposals for management of the foreshore along the Abel Tasman coastline.
People have until Monday 8 August to make submissions on the draft management plan for the foreshore reserve. When finalised, it will guide and direct the reserve administration committee’s management of the foreshore.
DOC Nelson/Marlborough conservator Neil Clifton said the draft management plan proposals were aimed at allowing continued enjoyment by people of the foreshore, including maintaining private landowners’ use of it, while protecting its natural features.
“A key aspect of the draft foreshore management plan is separating out high-use access points from the beaches where people can expect less noise and a more natural setting.
“The commercial activity proposals have been discussed with tourism operators. The proposed measures recognise the important services water transport operators provide for access to the park and private properties.”
For copies of the draft plan and submission forms: www.doc.govt, council service centres, local DOC office.
Submitted by DOC
