ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Why the proposed harbour cycleway won't happen

Author
Heather du Plessis-Allan,
Publish Date
Fri, 4 Jun 2021, 4:21PM

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Why the proposed harbour cycleway won't happen

Author
Heather du Plessis-Allan,
Publish Date
Fri, 4 Jun 2021, 4:21PM

What I’m enjoying most about the discussion over the proposed harbour cycleway is that we're discussing this like it’s actually going to happen.

Have we forgotten this particular Government’s record on delivering any kind of build?

Kiwibuild… 934 houses at last count so that’s only 99 066 short of the 100,000.

Light rail… supposed to be finished this year… still not even started.

The $12 billion worth of projects announced last year that was ‘shovel ready’? Not half of them started yet.

So, what makes us think that a project has big and as complicated as a bridge over Auckland’s harbour is going to be the first infrastructure promise they actually manage to deliver.

I am booking a front-row seat for the Michael Wood show because he is auditioning hard to be the next Phil Twyford.

And we all know how that show ends. And are those lycra-clad protestors from the North Shore going to be grumpy?

I am ready for that too because that is going to be a time if they’re even half as outraged cray as they were on Sunday while they stormed the harbour bridge.

I am hugely surprised the Government thought announcing this was a good way to solve the grumpy cyclists situation.

Not only are they running the risk of doing a Kiwibuild back down all over again, but also because they’ve just told Ashburton and any other rural town begging for a bridge how unimportant they are.

How can you announce this in the same week that Ashburton has its town cut in half, asks for a bridge and you don't say yes?

You could build 26 bridges for Ashburton for the cost of this cycling path.

And then the Government just chopped mill road today… so it also just gave the finger to couriers, truckies, businesses relying on freight and commuters coming in from south of the city who might’ve been relying on that road as a second way to drive into town from Drury.

The good news is at least South of Auckland and Ashburton aren’t going to end up having their hopes dashed. Can’t say the same for any north shore cyclist actually pinning their hopes on the dream bridge though.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you