An initiative to investigate the ways that people are moving around the Whakatāne District is looking for feedback from people in the Whakatāne township at its drop-in session to be held at the Whakatāne Library from 12 – 7 pm on Thursday, 28 February.
Active Whakatāne is a transport and recreation strategy project with the aim of making it easier and safer for our community to share our roads, pathways, tracks and open spaces, and have access to services and activities.
Team Leader - Strategy and Asset Management, Ann-Elise Reynolds says the project team has been working to gather feedback and this drop-in session is the next stage. "We’ve been asking people in the Whakatāne township about what it’s like to get around by foot, bike and mobility scooter," says Ms Reynolds. "We want to share what we’ve learned so far, and see what people think about how we can make moving around our town safer and easier.
"If your main mode of transport is walking, biking or scootering, or if you want it to be, then we want to talk to you," she says. "People can drop in anytime between 12 - 7 pm and we'll have team members there ready to listen."
The Active Whakatāne strategy will address the needs and safety requirements of a wide variety of travellers including people who are able and less-able walkers, cyclers, e-bikers, mobility drivers, scooter riders, and even horse riders. It will also include the needs of visitors to our area, people who have disabilities, and active recreational users (mountain bikers, walking track users etc.).
The strategy will also be a key reference document, ensuring that future roading and recreation projects keep the community's desire for easy and safe accessibility centre-of-mind during design.