Mid-Heathcote River/Opawaho Linear Park Masterplan

As we are out of time, I have sent the submission off based on my suggestions above, and comments received. It is attached to the original post, above.

Good work! Regarding the pedestrian underpasses, we should be stronger on this. Use by both cyclists and pedestrians should not just be a consideration, but if they are building an underpass (or several), this should always be available for cyclists. They should get the language right in the document. They are talking about numerous existing footbridges in the document, when in fact all those bridges are open to cyclists, too. In my opinion, this is more than just sloppy language, but displays that the planners working on this don't have cycles on their mind. Without explicitly mentioning cyclists, you have outcomes like above where proposed underpasses are for pedestrians only. That may not even be the intention, but before you know it, there's a "no cycling" sign put up on a new facility, because a couple of old ladies are complaining and upon looking back at the consultation material, Council only ever talked about pedestrians anyway... We should support the proposed road closure shown on Plan 5 (Eastern Tce), but of course keep access open for cyclists. At the very least, this is a route to Beckenham School. Plan 6 - I don't agree with the concept of having the pathway between the road and the houses. If the road needs to be made one-way to achieve a far more logical riverside pathway, so be it. We should support the proposed road closure at the Beckenham Ponds on Plan 6 (at least they mention this time that they want to keep cycle access here). Plan 15 - at no. 4, there used to be a nasty chicane where you can hardly get your bike through. Is it still there (not for us to check - they might as well do it)? The whole corridor should be audited and those things removed. We once had a tandem on one of our social rides, with a blind stoker. Without our help in lifting the tandem across the chicane, they couldn't have done this particular ride on their own. (you might as well quote this incident in our submission, Robin).

Paul de Spa is away on leave, and has asked me to respond to this. I have rung CCC and they are OK about late submission. I suggest that we lodge a brief email submission along the following lines:
1) That we support the overall approach and enhancements proposed in the masterplan, but consider that the lower Heathcote is a higher priority for cycling improvements.
2) That the linear park enhancements needs to be integrated with any cycling improvements associated with the councils new Heathcote river cycling route (Route 12) generally, and to take into account a possible Hagley Park-Heathcote River-Estuary- Avon River cycling route.
3) There are a number of busy road crossings along the river, and improving these crossings for cyclists and pedestrians travelling along the river should by a priority for enhancements associated with the linear park.
4) If bridge underpasses under busy roads crossing the Heathcote are feasible and practicable for pedestrians, consideration should be given to extending their use to cyclists.