In a move to further connect our communities, the Whakatāne District Council Strategy and Policy Committee formally adopted the Active Whakatāne Strategy last week.
Active Whakatāne is an exciting project that is designed to make it easier and safer for people to get to where they want to go without needing to use a car. It recognises all active user groups, from mobility scooters to cyclists to pedestrians, and sets out to achieve the objective of a vibrant, healthy and prosperous district. The project name was given to the revision and expansion of the previous Walking and Cycling Strategy, developed in 2007.
Strategy and Policy Committee Chairperson, Nándor Tánczos, says Council is fully behind the strategy, which will ensure walking and cycling networks meet community needs and enable all residents and visitors to lead healthy, active lives. It follows numerous calls from the community for more focus on active transport modes.
"Whakatāne is well suited for reducing car use. It's mostly flat and the weather is generally pretty good," he notes. "By creating a more comprehensive and connected network, we can make it safer for kids to cycle to school or people to get to work without burning petrol. That's good for people's health, the environment, and the wallet."
He says that despite set-backs from both the Whakaari eruption and COVID-19, the strategy is now over the line and the implementation phase can begin.
"The strategy was developed after thorough consultation with numerous stakeholders, and we intend to continue that level of engagement with the implementation phase too."
Previous feedback identified three key investments areas: commuter walking, scootering and cycling; safe ways to schools; and, recreational walking and cycling trails. Councillor Tánczos says the implementation phase will focus on enabling these key points.
"In addition to building infrastructure such as shared paths, cycle lanes and neighbourhood greenways, we will also support education programmes and activities," he says. "This will give everyone the opportunity to learn how best to move around our networks safely."
A nifty online 'Story Map' has been created to visually display all Active Whakatāne projects, and will be continually updated as the implementation plan is developed. This interactive tool, available at whakatane.govt.nz/active-whakatane, is made up of a series of active travel and recreation facilities spanning across the District.
"The online map is a great way for people to find out where and what is planned in terms of active transport," Councillor Tánczos explains.
The project is not just for the Whakatāne township. Complimentary to the Active Whakatāne Strategy, a 'Small Towns Initiative' programme is proposed to include a number of safety and amenity projects.
All small towns in the Whakatāne District are included in this programme, with specific improvements to be determined in consultation with each community.
"Anything we can do to encourage equal access to essential services and recreation facilities, while also addressing health and environmental issues, is crucial to our communities' wellbeing," says Councillor Tánczos. "The adoption of the Active Whakatāne Strategy is an exciting step in achieving this vision."