Ask Phoebe: Cycleway corridor to connect harbours

Photo / APN

Q. What, if anything, is going to be done regarding the cycleway in Waterview?

I ride a road bike, and used to ride through Waterview on the road. However, with the work on the tunnel the lanes have been narrowed and it's unsafe to cycle through there.

Unfortunately, the cycle lane that is available is more like a goat track. It may be fine on a mountain bike, but is barely manageable on a road bike. Are they going to do anything about this, such as resurface the lane?

Greg Jones, Auckland.

A. The tender for the Waterview Cycleway was accepted in December and the proposal was signed off at the beginning of February.

The Waterview Cycleway is the missing link in the off-road cycle network linking the Manukau and Waitemata harbours and the CBD. The cycleway follows the path of the SH20 Waterview motorway project.

A preferred corridor alignment has been identified between Alan Wood reserve, Mt Albert and Great North Rd, Waterview to provide a continuous cycleway. The preferred corridor for the cycleway would provide for a 4m wide off-road facility connected by bridges across the rail corridor and Oakley Creek.

Q. People convicted of even quite serious crimes are often sentenced to a number of hours of community service. Can you please tell me what community service entails?

Anne Martin, Helensville.

A. Community service activities include refurbishing old school desks, cleaning and re-laying concrete pavers, and clearing bush tracks.

The Department of Corrections website advises that the aim of community work is for offenders to pay something back to the community for the offence they have committed. It also gives offenders an opportunity to take responsibility for their offending and learn new skills and work habits.

The community work can be in a supervised group or on an individual basis through placement at an agency.

Suitable projects include those sponsored by local councils, government agencies, voluntary organisations, marae organisations, sports groups and other community groups.

Offenders can be required to do between 40 and 400 hours of community work. The number of hours will be determined by the judge in court. If offenders have more than 200 hours to complete, these need to be completed within two years.