February 2024
- Submission was made to Tasman District Council (TDC) about the proposed Port Tarakohe upgrade. Even though there will be a significiant increase in heavy truck traffic, no provision was made to address the signficant reduction in road safety to pedestrians and cyclists. We will be preparing a concept design at our expense for discussion with TDC .
- Strategic planning session held by Committee to focus our activities. Four priority areas were assigned to different Committee Members to lead:
- Milnthorpe Bypass: Axel Downard-Wilke
- Pohara to Port Tarakohe: Chris Bennett
- Takaka to Rangihaeata: Debbie Pearson
- Onekaka Bypass: Richard Struthers
October 2023
- Construction of the Pohara Shared Pathway is completed and it is now open to pedestrians and cyclists.
September 2023
- Tree planting was held 16 September at Paine's Ford
- The Society did a presentation in support of the Pohara Shared Pathway to an 'Emergency' meeting in Pohara. The presentation and the final shared pathway design are available from our Resources page
August 2023
- Annual General Meeting for the society was held
- Walkover survey of options for traversing Milnthorpe
- Tasman Distrct Council starts construction of the Pohara shared pathway.
June 2023
- Stuff publishes an article on controversy around the proposed Pohara shared pathway.
- The Society reiterated its position as presented to the Community Board in March 2023: “All our group has ever said is that there should be a safe connection into Tākaka from Pōhara and beyond. How that is done is up to TDC as the road controlling authority, and in the case of the campground, as the landowner. Our group never told TDC how to achieve that safe connection.”
April 2023
- The widened shoulders on SH60 at Milnethorpe are completed. This was identified as a major safety concern by the GBCWS some years ago and we are grateful to NZTA for their support. This will significantly improve cycling safety.
- The GBCWS is looking at funding options for progressing cycleways from Pohara to Tata Beach.
March 2023
- The GBCWS did a presentation to the Golden Bay Community Board on options for a shared pathway (pedestrians and cyclists) through Pohara. The Community Board decided on their existing design after a robust discussion
February 2023
- The GBCWS has been having meetings with NZTA on options for safe cycling to Rangihaeata in light of the recovery works at Bird's Hill
November 2022
- GBCWS having discussions on linking Golden Bay's cycling objectives with those of the Great Taste Trail Trust
June 2022
- GBCWS working with local land owners and TDC on an opportunity for a cycle trail in Onekaka which would take traffic off SH60 to avoid the dangerous section past the Mussell Inn
April 2022
- It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the untimely passing of Christine Pullar. Christine had worked tirelessly to advance the cause of cycling in Golden Bay, and was a key driver behind our 20 year cycling strategy and the efforts to get a bridge across Motupipi Stream. Her leadership of the GBCWS helped our small group to refocus our efforts and made a huge difference. She will be greatly missed.
December 2021
- The 'Incident Reporting' system is now live. This is used to record near misses, collisions and hazards.
- Tasman District Council has confirmed that they will be starting work on the cyclists bridge across the Motupipi River in April 2022.
November 2021
- The Paines Ford-East Takaka Cycleway is officially opened by Celia Butler!
- Tasman District Council has confirmed funding for the Motupip River bridge on the Takaka-Pohara Cycleway. We are grateful for the support of our two counsellors Celia Butler and Chris Hill
- The Golden Bay Community Board has endorsed our cycling strategy
September 2021
- Planting for Paines Ford-East Takaka Cycleway
December 2020
- Christine Pullar from the GBCWS did a presentation to the Tasman District Council Operations Committee on our 20 year strategy, specifically requesting their endorsement of the needs for the Takaka-Collingwood cycleway, and the bridge across the Motupipi River on the Takaka-Pohara cycleway. The presentation was very favourably received and we look forward to further collaboration. The presentation can be downloaded here.
November 2020
- Work continues on the Paines Ford - East Takaka trail, with the completion of the boardwalk. Well done Wouter and Phil!
- The GBCWS was asked by TDC to undertake a road safety audit of proposed changes to the Meihana Street - Rototai Road intersection. Based on the visit and discussions with the local community, we proposed a major redesign (see below). We will continue to engage with TDC on finding the best solution to provide safe walking and cycling at this critical location.
October 2020
- The official opening of the Takaka - Paines Ford cycleway was held on October 30. Councellor Celia Butler cut the ribbon with the enthusiastic help of Takaka Central Primary School students. Thanks to NZTA for making this happen, in particularly Andrew James, Andy High, and Jonathan Kennett.
- A 700 square metre pump track has been constructed at Takaka Primary School. Designed for bikes, scooters and skateboards, it consists of a continuous circuit of rollers, banked turns and features, with users' body movements generating momentum, rather than pedalling. A team of volunteers moved 70 tonnes of asphalt to help construct. Read more about it in Stuff.
September 2020
- The GBCWS escorted Associate Minister of Transport Julianne Genter during her visit to Golden Bay. We thanked her for the support she gave which helped the Takaka-Paines Ford cycleway eventuate, and showed her our other priorities of Takaka-Rangihaeata, Motupipi Bridge, and Pohara-Port Tarakohe.
- The GBCWS has proposed to Tasman District Council several options for an affordable bridge across the Motupipi River--a key area of concern for cycle safety and the top priority in our cycling strategy. Subject to NZTA providing a subsidy, Council has approved a bridge costing up to $250,000 for the site.
- With the proposed development and expansion of Port Tarakohe, the GBCWS is engaging with Tasman District Council on how to provide safe facilities for cycling and walking between Pohara and Port Tarakohe--particularly during construction when there will be elevated risks to vulnerable users.
- Thanks to Tasman District Council for improving cycle safety at Motupipi Hall by provided a separated pathway adjacent to the hall for when vehicles are parked across the cycleway.
August 2020
- Work is underway by the GBCWS team of Phil and Wouter (with some help!) to extend the cycleway from Paine's Ford to East Takaka. It will not be ready to ride until the ground hardens and a boardwalk is built.
July 2020
- The Golden Bay Cycling Strategy has been completed.
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Construction of the Takaka-Paine's Ford Cycleway is progressing.
May 2020
- We are running an online survey of cycling and walking experiences during the Covid-19 lockdown to provide us with an understanding of how much, if any, additional active transport activities were done given the much lighter vehicular traffic.
- The GBCWS provided alternative suggestions to TDC on a bridge across the Motupipi river to fit within potential funding envelopes.
April 2020
- The GBCWS continues to discuss with TDC improvements to the cycling facilities, as captured by this Stuff article.
March 2020
- Following the February road safety audit with the TDC Engineering team, TDC are looking at options to improve the Pohara end of the cycleway.
- The GBCWS have proposed a number of other improvements to the cycleway to address drainage and other issues.
February 2020
- The Takaka-Pohara Cycleway is now open. Stuff ran an excellent article on the opening ceremony at Motupipip school.
- Two representatives of the GBCWS participated in a road safety audit with the TDC Engineering team, recommending a number of improvements, some of which are in the process of being implemented.
- With the support of NZTA, we now have signs on Motupipi Bridge reducing the speed to 40 km/h when cyclists are present.
January 2020
Takaka-Paines Ford Cycleway:
- Representatives of the GBCWS and others met with NZTA and their design consultant WSP to go over the preliminary designs for the Takaka-Paines Ford cycleway.
- A number of key design issues were agreed and the design will commence with the goal of having construction completed by June 30, 2020.
Takaka-Pohara Cycleway:
- Construction has recommenced on the Takaka-Pohara Cycleway.
- In response to a road safety audit done by a GBCWS member, TDC have installed 'No Parking' signs along the cycleway in an effort to address the number of vehicles parking and blocking users.
TDC Active Transport Strategy: Tasman District Council is soon to start consultations on how to increase active transport. A copy of their pre-consultation presentation is here.
December 2019
The cycleway between Takaka and Pohara has started construction, with the first section between Pohara and Motupipi completed in time for the Christmas break. Check out the article in the GB Weekly here.
Great news on the next developments for active transport in Golden Bay:
- Funding was approved for the construction of the Takaka-Paines Ford cycleway, with construction anticipated to be completed by the end of June 2019
- NZTA have confirmed that they are commencing the technical work for the first phase of the Takaka-Collingwood cycleway: Takaka-Rangihaeta. Investigations will commence soon with the goal of construction starting in the summer of 2020.
November 2019
The GBCWS team met with the Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter during her visit to Golden Bay to discuss our vision for 'Golden Bay Trails', and what we needed to do in order to realize this vision.
September 2019
The pre-feasibility study for the proposed Takaka-Collingwood cycleway is completed. It can be downloaded here. A meeting was held with Damien O'Conner, our local Labor Member of Parliament, who was very supportive of the GBCWS efforts, and promised to advocate strongly for us to advance the 'Golden Bay Trails'.