Stage one of the Te Whau Pathway is complete, giving walkers and cyclists the beginnings of a great new route between Kelston and New Lynn.
The public is invited to celebrate the completion at a free event on Sunday 18 October, 1 – 3pm at Archibald Park, off Beaubank Road in Kelston.
There will be a free sausage sizzle and ice cream, face painting, bouncy castle and prizes. Bring your bike, scooter or skateboard!
Three sections of the pathway, totalling 1.6km, run through Olympic, Ken Maunder and Archibald parks. Once complete, Te Whau Pathway will be a 13km shared path for cyclists and pedestrians, linking Manukau Harbour at Green Bay Beach to the Waitematā Harbour at Te Atatū Peninsula along the western edge of the historic Whau River. It will also provide entry and exit points for kayakers.
The $29 million project is planned to be completed over the next five to eight years, with work being carried out as funding allows.
The Whau Coastal Walkway Environmental Trust, Whau Local Board, Henderson-Massey Local Board and Auckland Transport are working together to construct the pathway.
The Whau Local Board has funded the design, consultation, resource consenting and project management for stage one. The Whau Coastal Walkway Environmental Trust, with a grant from The Trusts Community Foundation, has funded the construction of the first stage.
“The pathway is enjoying use from a great variety of people, and we are delighted that it is fulfilling a need and showing off the beautiful river,” says Iris Donoghue, chair of the Whau Coastal Walkway Environmental Trust.
Whau Local Board chair Catherine Farmer says it’s great to have the first part of the pathway completed. “The pathway showcases some of the river’s unique environmental and historical features and we encourage the community to head along to enjoy a walk or cycle.”
Henderson-Massey Local Board chair Vanessa Neeson says she’s looking forward to seeing the path extended north into her local board area. “It will be great to have the connection between Te Atatū Peninsula and Green Bay.”