Work has commenced this week to widen and redirect the shared-use riverside path on the eastern end of the Warren Cole Walkway, to take users around the safety-sensitive game wharf and boat trailer parking areas.

The existing path will be widened and rerouted from the top of the stop bank past the southern (town) side of the waka shed and back on to the shared-use path on Muriwai Drive. This work is being carried out for public safety reasons, to provide a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists to and from the Whakatāne Heads.\

The new path will be constructed in concrete and will be three metres wide. Where the path rises over the stop bank, it will be paved with recycled paving blocks, to tie into the existing path and allow for a possible future raising of the stop bank, for flood protection reasons.

As part of the works, the existing path between the waka shed and the wharf and boat trailer park will be reinstated as a grassed area. While the works have been programmed to cause minimal disruption, Mataatua Reserve may be closed to overflow boat trailer parking for a short period.

The path works will be carried out by contractors, Crossroads, and are expected to be completed by 30 May 2019. A cultural monitor will be onsite to oversee the works.