Controversial New Plymouth cycleway 'Tim Tam Alley' could be on the way out under new mayor

New Plymouth's controversial cycleway known as "Tim Tam Alley" appears doomed.

New mayor Max Brough signalled removal of the cycleway on Devon St West - nicknamed "Tim Tam Alley" due to the concrete separators' resemblance to the popular biscuit - was high on his agenda.

"I like a cup of tea and a Tim Tam and that's the discussion we've had about how we fix the problem up there. It hasn't worked out very well, so that's probably one of the early cabs off the rank."

Brough - who won the mayoralty in a landslide securing a 5700 majority in the process - said he had met with council chief executive Gareth Green to map out his first 100 days in office.

"We worked through some of those things. So that package will be coming out by October 31."

The 4km cycleway was installed in conjunction with NZTA - which forked out $3.8 million for it.

While cyclists welcomed it, many motorists complained about the size of the concrete separators with several driving into them damaging tyres and wheel rims.

Complaints were also made about modifications at intersections designed to slow traffic along the cycleway route which passes six schools.

On the campaign trail, Brough said he had been approached by contractors willing to help absorb the cost of removing or modifying Tim Tam Alley.

"There'll be some input from the community and organizations. Again, we'll work through that, and that'll be announced in two weeks' time."

Brough - who was sticking to his commitment to serve a single term as mayor - was also planning a radical revamp of the council's committee structure which could see multiple deputies appointed.

"Deputy mayors is a go. Thunderbirds are go. I'm allowed to do that. We're going to run a lot leaner structure... and the deputy mayors will be doubling as chairs of committees. So we're just working through that process now. There will be three or four, probably."

Brough who was backed by the NZ Taxpayers Union aligned New Plymouth District Ratepayers Alliance - which he helped set up - was still working through the detail of what that might mean for councillor remuneration.

Campaign running mate Murray Chong appeared a shoo-in as one deputy with Brough's main rival for the mayoral chains and deputy mayor under the previous regime - David Bublitz - also a likely contender.

Multiple deputies could be one way of currying favour with councillors on what looks like a council with a significant divide between those on the left and right of politics.

Brough said he wanted to build consensus and was quietly confident he had the eight votes needed to get his agenda - including a rates cap - through council.

He could count on the backing of Chong, veteran councillor Gordon Brown and newbies John Woodward, Moira Irving George, ACT local candidate Damon Fox, and Kerry Vosseler and perhaps also Kohanga Mōa ward councillor Christine Fabish and RSA boss Graham Chard.

But the support of incumbent councillors Bublitz, Sam Bennett, Dinnie Moeahu and Maori ward representative Te Waka McLeod could not be assured nor that of new North Ward councillor Gina Blackburn.

Community activist EJ Barrett, who clawed 150 votes ahead of broadcaster Bryan Vickery in preliminary results after being behind on Saturday, could also be a spanner in the works.

Barrett for one wouldn't be in favour of removal of the cycleway.

"It's important to recognize that approximately a million people, a million adults in this country, do not have their full driver's license, and half of those do not have any license at all.

"So when we're dealing with the issue of transport poverty, if we're going to remove cycle lanes and safe ways for people to get to school, to work, to the doctor, to the community spaces, then how else are we going to support our significant population that are dealing with transport poverty?"

Barrett, who had successfully targeted special votes, thought the left block had achieved enough seats on council to keep it honest.

"I think we've got a really, really strong contingent to hold power to account."

Māori wards were voted out across Taranaki.

Brough who'd announced publicly he would be voting for their removal, still thought he could work with mana whenua.

"Absolutely, we have a good relationship. I made it clear that I was going to vote "no" and I haven't changed my position on that , but we still have to honour each other, and we have to treat each other with respect."

But karakia at the beginning and end of every meeting would no longer be a given under Brough.

"So the karakia before meeting, I'm going to make that optional, and it will work its way around the chamber and every member will have a turn of how they want to open and close a meeting, whether it's a karakia, the Lord's Prayer, or something else.

"Whatever that approach is, it'll be an equal choice as it goes around."

That would be a disappointment to Māori ward councillor Te Waka McLeod.

"I have spent the last three years getting to know Max, and I think that we have a part to play in building a relationship with iwi, with hapū and whānau. I think that he has an openness to work with us. It's whether or not that he can be open while he's the mayor.

"And so I just hope that Max is prepared to continue that work, continue that hard work as mayor throughout, you know, as simple as having karakia before and after meetings, just continuing and growing that in that space."

McLeod was disappointed but not surprised the vote had gone against retaining the Māori ward.

"Yes, I'm disappointed, but we're still here. We're not going anywhere. Whether we've got a seat at the table with a Māori ward or not, we ain't going anywhere."

She took solace from the fact 42 percent of voters in New Plymouth wanted to retain Māori wards, a far cry from the first public polls when less than 10 percent favoured their introduction.

McLeod said it was also comforting to see Blackburn had won in the North Ward - the first Māori woman to win a general seat on the district council - and that Dinnie Moeahu was clinging onto his district wide seat, while new councillor Chard also had Māori whakapapa.

"We have four Māori councillors sitting there and that's a win for Māori, but it's actually a win for the community. Obviously, people see value in actually having a Māori perspective within the decision makers and so that's a win for te ao Māori and that's a win for our community."

McLeod said she would consider standing in a general seat when the Māori ward was discontinued at the end of this council term.

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