ViaStrada is pleased to announce the opening of its Nelson regional office on 2^nd March. Quickfall Associates, an established resource management and planning consultancy servicing the top of the South Island, has rebranded as ViaStrada.

Heidi Baillie joined the Dunedin office of ViaStrada on 16 February 2009 as a Planner.

We're keen to demonstrate our support for sustainable transport and liveable cities by participating in Bike Wise once again.

Most of our staff will cycle during the month, and many already are regular bike commuters. Last year we were in the 7-24 staff category; this year we're competing with the bigger boys (and girls) in the 25-99 category. And did you know that Bike Wise won the ViaStrada Award for Cycle-Friendly Commitment by a Public Organisation last year?

ViaStrada prepared and lodged a resource consent application for a large new church facility for Lincoln Baptist Church on the outskirts of Lincoln.  The proposed development includes a 500 seat auditorium, an office block and meeting rooms, a cafe, a new preschool, a multi-purpose youth facility, a 'Kids for Christ' centre, and ancillary areas of car parking and landscaping.

Resource consent has been approved for the $120m redevelopment of the former Feltex Carpets factory site in Ilam, Christchurch.  A decision on the application prepared by ViaStrada was issued on January 29, 2009 and with no appeals to the Environment Court, the path is clear for detailed design and construction of the development.  

Sue McAuley will join the Nelson office of ViaStrada on 2 March 2009 as a Traffic Planner.

The IPENZ Transportation Group's membership magazine Roundabout got delayed and the December 2008 issue (# 119) will be posted in January. If you are a Transportation Group member and were eagerly awaiting the magazine's arrival, attached is an electronic version.

Welcome to ViaStrada’s new website. The same content as previously is now provided with a better look and feel. There’s a great team of people behind the scenes making this happen, and we would like to acknowledge them:

Season's greetings to all our clients, colleagues and peers from the ViaStrada team. We hope you all have a relaxing break, and a safe, enjoyable and healthy 2009.

The report Raising the profile of walking and cycling in New Zealand – a guide for decision-makers has been released by the Ministry of Transport.

The guide is aimed at local authority local decision makers and highlights the range of benefits that can be gained from creating safe and convenient walking and cycling networks in our towns and cities.

On page 30, it features one of our projects (Matai Street, Christchurch).