The Whakatāne District's latest walking and cycling asset will be officially opened on Saturday, marking the completion of a long-held dream of making the changing moods and estuarine beauty of the Ōhiwa Harbour more accessible to the community.
The Ōhope Harbourside Trail is an outstanding initiative by the Rotary Club of Whakatāne, which raised more than $200,000 to develop a 2.9-kilometre, shared-use pathway along the harbour edge, from Waterways Drive in the west to Port Ōhope Wharf.
Club spokesman Don Lewell says community members are invited to attend the opening ceremony, which will start at 11am on 24 March, at the Waterways Drive entrance to the trail.
"This is a chance to celebrate the completion of the trail and enjoy the access it provides to one of the District's very special places," he says. "Ōhiwa Harbour is one of New Zealand's most unspoiled estuaries. It holds immense cultural significance to tangata whenua and is home to multitudes of birds, shellfish and fish species. Our vision throughout this project has been to provide locals and visitors with an opportunity to appreciate the taonga we have on our doorstep."
Mr Lewell says that for the many supporters of the walkway, it was also important that it serve as an 'outdoor classroom' to promote a love of nature and environmental consciousness. "With the improved access we now have to this section of the harbour edge, we can look to further enhance the estuary environment and a care group is being formed to lead those activities."
He acknowledges the crucial role of the project sponsors. "Without the significant grants provided by the Lion Foundation, Southern Trust, Grassroots, the Whakatāne-Ōhope Community Board and Walking Access NZ, we would have struggled to get this off the ground. The support of the Whakatāne District Council and its staff has been hugely helpful and Tim Senior and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council have also contributed significantly.
"I think the Harbourside Trail shows just how much can be achieved when community groups like Rotary, funding agencies and local councils get together for a common purpose."