Protest held to celebrate the Railway Reserve and petition calls for its preservation

Friday, 17 July 2020

Clare Scott and Rebecca Glen organised a protest on Nelson's Railway Reserve to oppose any future arterial road through the area.

People who use or live near the Railway Reserve in Nelson have gathered to “celebrate” the reserve and launch a petition to have it removed from consideration for a future motorway.

Organiser Clare Scott said it was “not so much anti-inland-route” as it was to “celebrate this amazing linear park that we have”.

“We all know what the negative impacts will be [from the Southern Link], what hasn’t been talked about is what would be lost.”

More than 50 people came to the protest, some who lived nearby and others who used the cycle-way, and some cyclists passing by expressed their support for the group.

**READ MORE:

Rebecca Glen, left, and Clare Scott with daughter Alyssa organised a protest on the Railway Reserve Cycleway opposing Southern Links construction on the reserve.

* NZTA to engage community on southern link, other proposals

* Throwing some light on a well-used Nelson path

* Eyebrows raised as new Nelson underpass costs revealed

The protesters formed chain of linked arms up the reserve, with Clare Scott saying “the only kind of link we want in this area is a community link”.

Scott said she and co-organiser Rebecca Glen were inspired to start the petition when they saw the Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) consultation documents, which include the Southern Link under the name “the inland route”.

The NZTA is currently consulting on three different transport options: four-laning Rocks Rd, adding priority lanes to Waimea Rd and Rocks Rd, and building a motorway link via the Railway Reserve route to bypass Rocks Rd. Consultation closes on July 27.

“The NZTA has refused to provide an image of what it would look like [looking up the reserve], or an aerial view. I’ve asked, and they wouldn't provide it. If they're saying it’s an achievable option, why don't they tell us what it looks like?”

Scott said she had been told in the past that upgrades and maintenance to the reserve, like lighting, were being delayed by the Nelson Future Access (NFA) project “looming” over it.

Nelson City Council group manager of Infrastructure Alec Louverdis said the council was maintaining the pathway, repairing cracks or potholes as they were identified and maintaining the vegetation to keep the path clear, but he said it “made sense” to delay upgrades pending the NFA.

“Given the strong link between some sections of the Railway Reserve Rd and the NFA study, it makes sense to wait until we have more certainty about the future use of the area before committing to any upgrades.

“With regards to lighting, this is a significant project that is pending further information and investigation, including, but not limited to, the Nelson Future Access Study.”

Rebecca Glen said losing the railway reserve would be a “tragedy”.

“There are cities around the world trying to create a linear park. It's something to be sought after internationally, and here we are trying to take it out.”