Reference: https://yoursay.selwyn.govt.nz/annualplan22
Thank you for the opportunity to make comments about the proposed annual plan. The four projects that are being specifically consulted on have very little to do with biking so no preference is declared.
However, it has been observed that the Trices Road Plan Change has been approved and the Lincoln Plan Change is just waiting for Council approval.
It is noted both of these plan changes are outside the scope of the development plan agreed with Environment Canterbury, Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri District Council and Ngai Tahu.
It seems Selwyn District Council is looking for the development contributions from these projects at the expense of the residents of the three councils. Your annual plan shows 6.4% of the projected revenue coming from development contributions. This amounts to selling our future to keep the Council going.
A further 1,700 houses in Lincoln is likely to result in an additional 3,000 or so motor vehicles in the vicinity with a number of them travelling to Christchurch quite regularly. There does not seem to be any consideration for the provision of alternatives.
More motor vehicles makes the environment for passive transport worse, especially on country roads. Speed limits can be reduced, and the Council is applauded for this recent work, but that benefit is quickly negated by an increase in numbers using the roads.
In 2018 Rolleston had over 80% of the journeys to work being made by single occupancy motor vehicles. The subsequent opening of the motorway extension is likely to have increased this number.
If this is repeated in Lincoln and Prebbleton and there are an average of 1.5 workers per new house the result is another 3,000 vehicles travelling the road daily plus the extra deliveries of services like fuel, groceries and stocks for other retailers.
This increased traffic does make cycling much less attractive on the country roads but also will impact the attractiveness of cycling within the towns as the cars find their way home.
The reasons why the reduction in cycling is not desirable are many; the health of the population, air quality, climate change, noise pollution and social cohesion are a few.
We have a Climate Emergency and these decisions are contrary to steps required to address it.
Therefore Spokes is opposed to those parts of the Annual Plan addressed above.
Spokes Canterbury (http://www.spokes.org.nz/) is a local cycling advocacy group with approximately 1,200 members and is affiliated with the national Cycling Action Network (CAN – https://can.org.nz/). Spokes is dedicated to including cycling as an everyday form of transport in the greater Christchurch area.
