Thursday, 4 September 2025
The Keepa Road Shared Use Path will continue to be maintained under the current reactive maintenance programme, following a decision by the Infrastructure and Planning Committee today.
The path, which runs the length of Keepa Road between SH30 and Bunyan Road Coastlands, is used by an average of 117 people each day, mostly cyclists. While still serviceable, the path is showing signs of wear and tear after 27 years of use, including surface deterioration and subsidence near Kope Canal.
Manager Transportation Ann-Elise Reynolds says the decision reflects the current funding environment and the need to prioritise essential maintenance.
“Like many councils across the motu, we’re seeing reduced funding from Waka Kotahi for walking and cycling projects. That means we need to be strategic about where and when we invest,” Ms Reynolds says.
“While we know there’s strong community support for upgrading the path, particularly from Coastlands and Piripai residents, we’re not in a position to fund a full upgrade right now. However, we’re committed to keeping the path safe and usable in the meantime.”
Planned maintenance includes sealing the entranceway near Kope Canal, removing loose chip and debris, and repairing edge breaks and low shoulders. These works are expected to begin this month.
At today’s meeting, the Committee considered six options ranging from basic maintenance to full reconstruction. These included resealing the existing path, rebuilding it with either unsealed or concrete surfaces, and potentially constructing a new footbridge to bypass the subsiding section near Kope Canal. Costs ranged from $50,000 for reactive maintenance to over $2.8 million for a full upgrade with lighting and separation from traffic.
Ultimately, the Committee approved Option 1, reactive maintenance only, while noting that more substantial upgrades will be considered during the development of the 2027–2037 Long Term Plan. Future planning will be guided by funding availability, including potential support from Waka Kotahi and development contributions.
The Council will continue engaging with Te Hokowhitu a Tu Marae, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, and the Coastlands/Piripai Collective to ensure the communities’ views are considered as part of future planning.
ENDS