Bike Northland – The plan going forward
The plan going forward
Council were impressed with the quality of the proposal from Bike Northland and are fully supportive of the multi-purpose bike park. The land at the Pohe Island site is being leased to Bike Northland by Whangarei District
Council at a peppercorn rental, with the Council also providing funding (matched by Bike Northland) to develop the facility. The first stage of the project is the development of a new international standard BMX track in time
for hosting the National BMX Championships in 2009.
The development is being project managed by Bike Northland, who is working closely with Whangarei District Council’s Aubrey Gifford, Parks Technician Officer. Bike Northland is responsible for following through on the agreed
plan, managing the budget and hiring the contractors to complete the project in a timely manner.
Bike Northland also presented a professional, innovative face to other agencies including the Oxford Sports Trust, who have committed support and finance for the development of the park.
Some proposal strengths and innovations
The Bike Northland proposal to Council pointed out that the development of Pohe Island as a bike park would complement the Whangarei District Walking and Cycling Strategy, helping to achieve the three objectives of the
strategy:
- providing more walking and cycling facilities
- getting more people walking and cycling more often, and
- providing programmes and promotion that ensures walking and cycling are seen as safe and beneficial forms of transport.
The bike park was also presented as connecting with the recreational cycling community by providing the opportunity for individuals to learn to cycle in a safe and supportive environment.
Lastly, Bike Northland’s proposal linked to a number of national strategies. Strategies like the ‘New Zealand Transport Strategy 2002’ and ‘Getting there on Foot, by Cycle 2005’ share the goals of:
- building community environments and transport systems that support walking and cycling
- getting more people choosing to walk and cycle more often, and
- improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Updated | 22 Sep 2009.
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