Cyclists of Whangarei can prepare to celebrate with the Government putting $4.8 million into expanding the district's cycleways.
The money has been pumped into the budget for the construction of a new 6.5km route from Kamo to the CBD, with expectations of at least 600 people using it daily.
TransportMinister Simon Bridges said the Kamo route would receive $2 million from the Urban Cycleways Fund, $1.49 million from the National Land Transport Fund and $1.32 million from local government.
This is on top of an amount already funded through the Whangarei District Council and National Land Transport Fund, which is now sitting at $7 million. This will be used to construct the Kamo route and complete the Onerahi and Raumanga/Maunu routes.
Whangarei district councillor and Bike Northland coordinator Stuart Bell is pleased. "We started submitting to the council five years ago [for money for cycleways] and to go from only $50,000 a year of funding to now have a $7 million four-year programme is really good."
The new route will normalise biking to school for children, and help to relieve congested areas around schools as the population of Whangarei grows, he said.
"The biggest winner is health and well-being."
Plans have been accelerated as a result of the funding boost and work will start on the Kamo route early next year, with completion in mid-2018.
New Zealand Transport Authority regional director Ernst Zollner, said cycling was a key priority for the agency.
"Getting more New Zealanders cycling will connect people with a greater range of employment, education and social opportunities and contribute to a more environmentally sustainable future for our transport network." The nationwide cycleway programme will see $296 million invested over the next three years.
