$5m government funding in jeopardy as council cites lack of resources to carry out work

A $5m government boost to increase transport connections within Nelson is in jeopardy, as council staff say there aren’t enough resources to carry out the work, and the government refuses to extend the funding deadline.

In December, Richmond, Nelson and Motueka received a chunk of the government’s $350m Transport Choices package.

Nelson’s $5m share was earmarked for improved transport connections between the Brook and Waimea Rd, including “protected cycle paths, safer pedestrian crossing facilities and dedicated speed control measures”.

At the time, Nelson City council group infrastructure manager Alec Louverdis said the Waka Kotahi funding would cover almost all the cost of the work, while Mayor Nick Smith said cycleways were “good for Nelson”, and that the east-to-west link was a vital part of the city’s travel network.

However, the funding came with an expiry date: work must be completed by June 2024, and the council aren’t able to meet that condition.

“Council staff cannot complete the project in the government’s timeframe,” Louverdis said.

He cited the “considerable amount of infrastructure work” happening due to flood recovery, and the “complexity” of cycleway projects.

“In an ideal world this work can be completed in a year, but not when resources are stretched across many other equally important projects and where we want to ensure engagement with the public is strong,” Louverdis said.

The time limit on funding put councils in a “difficult position”, he said.

Nelson sustainable transport group Nelsust convener Peter Olorenshaw said while it would be “hugely disappointing” to lose the funding, the deadline was always going to be a difficult one for the council to meet.

“Whilst you might think they didn’t get their act together, it was always going to be too short a timeframe, particularly when staff have been so busy with other things like the new buses.”

Olorenshaw hoped the council would eventually complete the link – with or without help from central government.

“It’s such a critical part of our infrastructure; the council should do it anyway.”

Motueka was in the same boat. Their share of the Transport Choices funding amounted to $8.6m. But opposition to a planned cycleway on Motueka High St means that the chunk of money allocated to that project could be lost.

Unless Waka Kotahi extends the funding deadline, any future cycleway on the High St was unlikely to be funded at the 95% rate afforded by the transport package.

Nelson City Council had been refused a funding extension, Louverdis said.

“Mayors Nick Smith and Tim King have written to the Transport Minister asking for that decision to be reconsidered, and we are awaiting a reply.”