Cycle Trail Funding Process Q and A
Last updated:
October 2009
The funding process is for Phase Two of the cycleway project. It follows Phase One which was announced in July as the seven Quick Start projects.
This pack contains all the documents needed for proposals under Phase Two of the New Zealand Cycleway Project.
The pack contains:
- Guide to the Funding Process. This provides an overview of the Phase Two funding process, including information on the timeframes, assessment criteria and decision making processes.
- Concept proposal form and guidance notes for stage one of the process
- Feasibility study guidance notes – for proposals that progress to stage two of the process
- Business case guidance notes - for proposals that progress to the third (and final) stage.
- The New Zealand Cycleway Market Research report.
The Market Research Report was commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism to gain a better understanding of the size, scope and characteristics of cycling market segments, both domestically and in New Zealand’s key international tourism markets. The findings of the research have been incorporated into the assessment criteria of the funding process.
Following the completion of the Market Research Report, guidelines and characteristics were developed for both on and off-road cycleways. The guidelines include, for example, the preferred gradient, width and surface of trails by different users. These guidelines and characteristics can be found in Appendix Two of the Guide to the Funding Process.
Yes. The cycleway project is initially focused on developing a series of ‘Great Rides’.
They must:
- Meet the objectives and assessment criteria
- Complement our 100% Pure New Zealand brand and help attract international tourists; and
- Give New Zealanders another compelling reason to explore their own country.
The Assessment Criteria requires cycleways to:
- Meet a market demand (demand must be sufficient to warrant investment in the cycleway);
- Showcase the best that New Zealand has to offer;
- Meet the objectives of the Cycleway Project (generate economic benefits, provide high-quality assets that offer a world-class experience, deliver complementary benefits and engage the community); and
- Develop partnerships and stakeholder support.
Most applicants will be local authorities – especially if Crown land is involved. However, other entities can apply as long as they can demonstrate that they meet the criteria outlined in Part 5.1 of the Guide to the Funding Process.
It is preferable that an applicant is a single legal entity, but an applicant that is more than one party, such as an unincorporated joint venture or a partnership, may be considered.
Yes. The Ministry of Tourism acknowledges that in some cases, substantial work has already been undertaken in preparing concept documents. However, to ensure that consistency is applied, the completion of a concept proposal form is required.
Proposals must be submitted to the Ministry of Tourism by 18 December 2009. Proposals should be in the form of a signed concept proposal form, with relevant supporting documentation attached. The supporting documentation that should be included is listed in Section K of the concept proposal form.
No. The Cycleway Fund is a limited, contestable fund. The government is looking for proposals that reflect a strong regional partnership approach and a commitment to co-funding. The level of funding for a specific cycleway project will be decided on a negotiated basis with the applicant.
The Funding Committee makes the decisions at each stage of the process.
The Funding Committee comprises senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Economic Development, the New Zealand Transport Agency and the Treasury.
The Technical Assessment Group (TAG) comprises government officials and specialists with legal, engineering, business and cycling industry expertise. The members of the TAG were appointed earlier this year following a tendering process.
The TAG will be available to provide generic technical assistance to applicants during the Funding Process.
There is some flexibility in the process. For example, the Ministry of Tourism has the discretion to relax some timeframes if it is considered necessary to do so. The Ministry also recognises that proposals are likely to include aspects that are unique to the project and that these may require the Funding Committee and Technical Assessment Group to be flexible in their approach and evaluation of each proposal.
The Government will not own, operate or fund the ongoing maintenance of any cycleways funded from the National Cycleway Fund, except in some cases where they are located on land owned or administered by the Crown.
Long-term operational and maintenance costs must be fully met from the applicant (whether from its own resources or other sources).
That will depend on the number, size and quality of the proposals received.
If the funding is not fully allocated by October 2010, the Ministry of Tourism may invite further proposals.
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