A Month of Contrasts

Posted by Frana Cardno on 8 August 2009 | 0 Comments

Tags: Quick Start cycle trails, youth offending issues, Round the Mountain cycle trail

It was a month of contrasts for me - a lovely relaxing holiday in Niue in sun and sand then a full-on Local Government New Zealand conference in chilly Christchurch.

I had time to throw my summer clothes in the wash and pack the winter woollies before I left home for the conference, which was extremely worthwhile as we had excellent speakers and workshops.

Prime Minister John Key's announcement of the seven Quick Start cycle trails, with one of these in Southland, was a highlight, but the speaker that held me enthralled was Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft, who spoke about how local government can help fight youth offending.

There was no easy answer to youth offending as it was hard to pin point causes generally, he said. But his suggestions on how local government could respond included developing strong relationships with police Youth Aid and CYFS youth justice managers and family group conference co-ordinators. Mr Becroft also suggested developing venues for community work and supporting community remand facilities and supervising activity programmes.

I believe Southland is ahead of the eight-ball with its programmes for youth, not least the ALIVE programme, which has proved a success for youth who may have moved into crime if the intervention had not happened. I think it is important to have local-based programmes for local youth as the problems youth face in the south are different from those in big cities, to some degree.

Youth issues have challenged society since time immemorial and Me Becroft gave examples of concerns from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Shakespearean time, so the tests we face are not new. However, I do believe local government has a role in the prevention of youth problems so that we don't have to be the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

Mr Key's announcement of Government support for the Round the Mountain cycle trail is excellent news for Southland. Southland councils were already looking at options for cycle trails before the Budget announcement of $50 million for a national trail, but this brought all councils in the southern area - Queenstown Lakes District, Central Otago District, Clutha District, Southland District, Invercargill City and Environment Southland - together to work cooperatively to bring the Government money down here.

I have been asked by other provinces why we were chosen by the Government. Strategically we are in an excellent position for the national trail. Because the councils are already working together, we have the ability to work across boundaries and see the big picture.

This Round the Mountain trail starts in Queenstown and could eventually link to the Central Otago Rail Trail. The success of this trail shows how small communities can benefit from such a development.

Mr Key said the Government had set aside $9 million from the $50 million New Zealand Cycleway Fund for projects earmarked for a "Quick Start". These are only the first set of projects for the New Zealand Cycleway. As the numbers of tracks grow, and cycle tourism increases, the numbers of jobs generated will increase.

The Mayors and Chair of the southern councils believe this cycle trail will form the backbone of a wider network of trails. That network includes possible trails from Lumsden to Invercargill/Bluff, from Lake Mavora to Te Anau to Tuatapere and from Lumsden to Gore/Catlins Coast.

The Around the Mountain Rail Trail will be an easy to ride, 175-kilometre trail. Participants will travel across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw, and will then cycle through Walter Peak and Mount Nucolas Stations, and along the Von Valley of Lake Mavora. The trail will then follow the Oreti River to Mossburn and then go along the old railway line to Lumsden. It will then go through Athol and Garston on its way to Kingston.

Venture Southland has already employed MWH to put together a study on where the trail will go and how much it will cost. More information will follow as this progresses. Watch this space!