Community feedback sought for safer ways to wheel, walk and cycle around Ōtepoti Dunedin

The Dunedin City Council today voted to begin community consultation on this 30-year strategy, which aims to ensure walking, wheeling, and cycling develop effectively as the city grows. Consultation will be open from Monday 14 September until Friday 16 October 2026.

The draft Ōtepoti Pathways Strategy does not commit funding to specific projects. If adopted by Council, any future walking, wheeling, and cycling improvements will be considered through the Council’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan processes.

Councillors who voted in favour of asking for community consultation were Mayor Barker, Cr Chambers, Cr Garey, Cr Hall, Cr Lucas, Cr Laufiso, Cr Mayhem, Cr Ong, Cr Simms, Cr Treadwell, Cr Walker, and Cr Weatherall.

Councillors Lund and Galer voted against the Strategy going out for public consultation.

The draft Ōtepoti Pathways Strategy was initiated in 2023 as a requirement for attracting NZTA co-funding and a need to better coordinate improvements across the city.

The strategy has been guided by Government and DCC strategies, was developed using a robust strategic planning process. Its development has been informed by community feedback, targeted stakeholder engagement and feedback gathered at Council workshops in August 2023 and May this year.

The 30-year vision is ‘In Ōtepoti Dunedin, it is safe and easy for people of all ages and abilities to walk, cycle or wheel for everyday travel’. This vision has four goals of safety and accessibility, choice and wellbeing, economic prosperity and tourism, and traffic reliability and resilience.

The draft plan proposes that investment will be focused firstly in the central city, the north-western hill suburbs, South Dunedin and Caversham, Mosgiel, and then Andersons Bay and Musselburgh.

These areas have been prioritised because of their population density, many schools and workplaces.

The public consultation will ask for feedback on the proposed direction of the draft Ōtepoti Pathways Strategy, including the vision, goals, objectives, and priority areas and this will help the DCC understand community priorities, identify any gaps or opportunities.

Some projects identified through the strategy may be delivered by other partners, including NZTA, developers or community organisations such as trails trusts. These projects may have separate planning, funding, and approval processes.

Ways for the community to participate in consultation will be advertised widely.

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