Left picture and middle pictures show the current concrete path down to Fitzroy Reserve, right picture shows the current wooden steps from Beach Street to Fitzroy Reserve in New Plymouth. Photo: Supplied / Max Brough
A proposed $2.3 million accessible path to New Plymouth's most popular swimming beach is the "gold-plated" option, too expensive and a burden on ratepayers, according to a district councillor.
The money has been set aside in the draft, long-term plan to provide access between Beach Street and Fitzroy Reserve.
The new accessway would have two entrances at Beach Street and walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users would be able to get to the reserve below and beach beyond via a series of steps or ramps.
The project would replace a set of wooden steps coming to the end of their life and a steep concrete path that is no longer being maintained.
District councillor Max Brough - who co-owns a business at Fitzroy Beach which would potentially benefit from improved access - said the project's goals could be achieved at fraction of the cost.
"Well that's a nonsense number, an absolute nonsense number. If you look at the drawings, we've gone for the gold-plated option," Brough said.
"If you want to do things for the community and there's not enough money to go around you have to be a little bit practical about how you spend it. These are all things that need doing, but do we need to spend $2.3 million on a cycleway at Fitzroy Beach?"
For $300,000, council could put in a perfectly good asphalt or concrete path down the side of the hill, Brough said.
During the summer peak season, the 81 marked car parks and 25 vehicles spaces on grassed areas quickly fills up, meaning many visitors had to park on Beach Street.
People parked on the road who use a mobility scooter, wheelchair or have children in pushchairs currently get to the beach via narrow road shared with vehicles as do cyclists arriving via Beach Street.
A drawing of the proposed $2.3m accessway to Fitzroy Beach in New Plymouth. Photo: Supplied / New Plymouth District Council
Council boss aims to use NZTA funds for half of costs
Council chief executive Gareth Green said the aim was for the new path to be wheelchair and bike accessible.
"And by doing that it means that we are able to secure some funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency / Waka Kotahi. So, 51 percent of the cost of those steps will be funded by NZTA.
"The actual design has been scoped on that basis and the cost has come out from that scoping work, but the actual design will be re-looked at before the project commences.
"I wouldn't necessarily call it gold-plated. I would say it's a plan that has been designed to achieve the scope that's been agreed upon which allows for bicycle and wheelchair use."
Green said he had faith the NZTA funding would still be available under the new government.
"I'm as confident as I can be. Again, things are changing at the moment as you are aware, but yeah, as confident as we can be at this point."
Fitzroy Beach. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Max Brough did not share the chief executive's confidence NZTA would part fund the project.
"They attract that level of funding from the government if it passes the criteria. Given that the transport minister has put a pause on cycleways as we know them, I have some serious reservations that this project would actually fit the bill or not.
"Right now, the messages coming out of Wellington is that money and cycleways are not two things that join up."
One resident, Mike, who was out walking his dog at Fitzroy Beach, was not impressed with the proposal.
"It sounds a tad over the top. A waste of money. Upgrade the steps for sure, but there's another accessway up the road for either mobility scooters or whoever else. If it was coming out of my pocket, I wouldn't do it."
Council will meet to adopt a draft long term plan consultation document to go out for public consultation in February.
In March, public feedback will be sought before the 10-year plan is adopted by council in June.
