The success of Wānaka’s cycling and walking paths and trails should be celebrated and their popular use rewarded with further investment and the creation of more quality paths and recreational opportunities.

This message was delivered by both Active Transport Wānaka and Bike Wānaka during their oral submissions to the Queenstown Lakes District Council's annual plan hearing in Wānaka last week (May 25). 

“I think we should celebrate the progress we have made on active transport in Wānaka over the past three years,” Active Transport Wānaka’s spokesperson Simon Telfer told councillors, adding the uptake of walking and biking was a “huge step” in its contribution to the council’s  Emissions Reduction Plan.

He revealed that the newly created pathways being monitored showed “significant usage”: Lakeside Road recorded almost 50,000 users for the month of January and in the same month the newly sealed Aubrey Road pathway clocked over 12,000 users. 

While the high numbers had dropped over summer there were still hundreds of movements recorded on both sealed paths during Easter by commuters and recreational walkers and riders, he said.

“It continues to demonstrate that if we provide the community with safe, accessible, high quality walking and biking infrastructure it will get a lot of use,” Simon told the Wānaka App. 

He asked councillors to consider the ongoing funding of Wānaka’s Active Transport network with a focus in this year’s annual plan (financial year 2022-2023) on the first two sections of Schools to Pool (S2P) network, from Kelly’s Flat, through the Wānaka Primary School and across Lismore Park, as well as the construction of the shared path along Anderson Road connecting to the Aubrey Road path.

This bike park at Eely Point was opened in May last year. PHOTO: Wānaka App

Simon said the Wānaka Network Optimisation Business Case, which includes transport planning, must be prioritised and resourced to ensure the business case will proceed this financial year. 

The further development of top-class mountain biking and advocacy for safer urban bike trails was highlighted by Bike Wānaka’s treasurer Naomi McGregor who told the councillors the work the council partially funded in recent years has been successful, including the trails above the Kirimoko residential subdivision and the Hāwea Bike Park completed last year.

The Hāwea Bike Park, which attracted QLDC funding in last year’s annual plan, “has proved to be a valuable asset for the residents of Hāwea, being enjoyed by bikers of all ages and abilities,” Naomi said, adding that they had also recorded an average of 250 bikes per day using the Kirimoko trails.

This year Bike Wānaka has applied for a community grant of $35,000 to rejuvenate the bike park in Lismore Park, with the collaboration of Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust, Disc Golf Wānaka and the QLDC. 

“The current bike park has become overgrown and a spot for loitering,” Naomi said.

Bike Wānaka plans to rejuvenate the current bike park at Lismore Park. PHOTO: Wānaka App

“This is currently an underutilised and poorly maintained area however we see this as having huge potential. Our vision is to rejuvenate this into a community space that is accessible and desirable for all to use.” 

The demand for public bike spaces is increasing, Naomi said, and with its proximity to schools, residences and town, Lismore Park presented a great opportunity to develop safe tracks for riders of all levels supporting skill development, from balance bikes and scooters, to mountain bikes and advanced jumpers.

The $35,000 represents one third of the cost of stage one, with the remaining two thirds to be funded by other community organisations and Bike Wānaka.

Stage one of the proposed project includes six lines progressing in skill levels, from berms, rollers and small table tops to large gap jumps, drops and other features. 

It also includes the retention of the current expert line of dirt jumps for advanced riders and a freestyle area with wooden ramps, drops, mulch jump and an airbag to practice and develop bike skills needed to safely negotiate Wānaka’s mountain bike trails.

Once funding is secured, it’s anticipated stage one could be completed and open to the public in November this year.

Stages two, three and four will include an asphalt pump track, a cross-country loop trail and bike park facilities, such as seating, shelter, toilets, BBQs and native tree planting.

Naomi said the development has the potential to become a world class bike park within the heart of Wānaka which “will attract visitors and bike enthusiasts from around the country and overseas, including competitive and professional riders”.