5 October 2017

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Green Corridor

Inquiry

This Sunday [8 October] marks the two year anniversary of the Green Corridor through Rotorua's CBD and I am putting an article together of what it all looks like two years on.

We were wondering if there has been any statistics or surveys completed showing how well used the Green Corridor is and if we could please have access to them. We are focusing on the area which runs through the CBD between Government Gardens and Kuirau Park.

From the Rotorua Lakes Council perspective:

- Does the Rotorua Lakes Council think the Green Corridor has been successful, if so why?

- How has the community benefited from having the Green Corridor in place?

- If anything, what would the council do differently with the Green Corridor?

- Two years on are there any plans in place to change the Green Corridor?

- Have Council considered reverting the Green Corridor back to carparks?

-How much did it cost?

-How many car parks were removed?

-How long did it take to construct?

Response

From Strategy group manager Jean-Paul Gaston:

"The Green Corridor is part of a bigger picture incorporating inner city revitalisation, sustainability, public wellbeing and public safety and it was constructed with a focus on the future.

The Green Corridor contributes to key goals of Rotorua's 2030 vision - a vibrant inner city, sustainable economic growth, environmental sustainability and resilient communities.

Use of cycleways and shared paths by cyclists elsewhere in the city has increased and it's expected that use of the Green Corridor will increase as more of the cycleways and shared paths being constructed through the CyWay programme are completed, providing safe links all the way to the inner city to and from our suburbs.

The design was aimed at linking people to as many places in the CBD as possible, as well as linking with the Government Gardens and Kuirau Park. It also provided a connection with existing cycleways (eg along Fenton Street and from Ngongotaha) which had ended on the outskirts of the central city.

It was seen as a way to provide another reason and another way for people to come into the inner city and cycleways such as this have, in other parts of the world, provided an economic boost for retailers and other businesses.

Along with the rest of the CyWay network, the Green Corridor has provided a safe link through the inner city to and from other cycleways.

There are no current plans to change the Green Corridor but Council welcomes ongoing feedback via cycling@rotorualc.nz and people can visit CyWay.nz for more information about the network and how to give feedback."

Background and other information

• The Green Corridor was a project recommended as part of a 2006 CBD revitalisation strategy which also included establishing Eat Streat and refreshing the City Focus (now Te Manawa) and aligns with Rotorua's urban cycling strategy.
• These projects were incorporated into an updated strategy following the establishment of portfolios which were set up to deliver Rotorua's 2030 vision.
• Work on developing the Green Corridor proposal was a collaboration between Rotorua Lakes Council, Rotorua Cycle Action and the Inner City Focus Group representing CBD retailers and businesses.
• The public was invited to give feedback, through development of the inner city revitalisation strategy, the Ideas Store and again as part of development of the 2015-25 Long-term Plan and the project was incorporated into the Long-term Plan.
• Construction took about six months. The project was finished in September 2015 and there was an official opening in early October 2015.
• 50 carparks (of more than 3000 available in the inner city) were removed to make way for the Green Corridor. 29 of these were in Hinemoa Street and were in use 35% of the time.
• The project cost $442,000 with New Zealand Transport Agency committing to funding 57% ($252,000) and Council funding the remainder ($190,000) from existing budgets. Due to changes requested by businesses in Haupapa Street, the final cost was $72,000 higher than originally budgeted.
• Counters at four cycleway/shared path locations around Rotorua (Amohau Street, Fenton Street, Kuirau Park and Ngongotaha) show average daily use by cyclists has increased from 167 in June 2016 to 223 in June 2017 (a 33.53% increase).