The Waiewe Reserve Restoration Group will officially open an all-weather walkway this Friday, 4 May. The new path connects Mokorua to town and accommodates pushchairs, bikes, and mobility vehicles.
The project has been a collaboration between the Restoration Group, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Whakatāne District Council. The crushed metal pathway, which is 1.5 metres wide and 150 metres long, has been funded through Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Environmental Enhancement Fund. The Fund was established to provide seed funding for community-based projects that improve and increase access to the environment while using the enthusiasm and skills of the community.
Waiewe Reserve Restoration Group spokesperson, Jacqui Hughes, says the pathway will be a great asset for local residents, and potentially those who wish to shorten their Ngā Tapuwae o Toi trek and bypass the Bird Walk.
“Many of us have been using the Council’s maintenance track for years to travel through the Reserve, so it’s wonderful to now have an all-weather track that is also mobility-friendly,” she says. “The Group has made a number of valuable contributions to the Reserve environment throughout the years, and we’re pleased to be receiving support from both Councils in acknowledgement of this.”
Whakatāne District Council will add the new pathway to its asset maintenance schedule, and will also contribute, through a grant from the Whakatāne-Ōhope Community Board, a picnic bench to the Reserve along with information signs.
The official opening will commence with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 am on Friday, 4 May at The Fairway entrance to the Reserve followed by refreshments. All are welcome to attend.