Rangitāiki River Walkway development begins
07 February 2012
Leisurely strolls along the banks of the Rangitāiki River are just around the corner with development of the Rangitāiki River Walkway underway.
The walkway will extend 2.7 kilometres from behind the Edgecumbe Squash and Tennis Club through to Edgecumbe Domain and will be able to be accessed at many points along the route.
Rangitāiki Community Board member Viv Barr says the walkway development has been coordinated through the Edgecumbe Development and Improvement Team (E.D.I.T.).
“The initiative was identified as a priority project by the community at recent community vision meetings and E.D.I.T. and the Rangitaiki Community Board have taken on the task of coordinating the project.
“Several members of the Edgecumbe community have regularly maintained sections of the river bank beyond their properties and walkers have made the most of the clear marginal strip. The walkway will connect these sections and extend on from this,” Mrs Barr says.
The walkway, which will allow greater accessibility to council reserves, has been jointly supported by Whakatāne District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Department of Conservation.
Mrs Barr says construction of the walkway will be carried out at no cost to the ratepayers by community probation workers who will be supervised by the Department of Corrections.
“Presently their work involves the construction of a boundary fence along the stopbank from the Cosmopolitan Club to the river wall through land leased for grazing.
“The fence will keep stock off the walkway with stiles provided to allow pedestrian access to the river,” Mrs Barr says.
The pushchair-friendly walkway will be maintained through a Whakatāne District Council mowing contract and rubbish bins installed on the walkway will also be maintained through a District Council contract.
Mrs Barr says the team hopes work will be completed in time for an official opening in mid-2012.
Ends