The project is part of the Better Off Funding Package the Council was successful in receiving $900,000 from the Department of Internal Affairs. The project's aim is to build greater connection between outlying communities and offer other commuter options, while supporting the wellbeing of our tamariki to stay active.

The project has been a long-standing aspiration of the Edgecumbe community and supports the Edgecumbe Community Plan. It also supports the 'Small Towns Initiatives' focus within the 'Active Whakatāne Strategy', which will eventually see a larger network of shared pathways, walkways and cycle trails connecting the wider Whakatāne District.

The Edgecumbe to Thornton Shared Pathway will begin at the Squash Club on College Road, will end at the Thornton Bridge, and will be completed in a staged approach. The first stage is resurfacing the existing track from the Squash Club to the Skate Park. The specific route for stages 2-4 is still under consideration, and the final route has not been confirmed.

The shared pathway will be made up of a crushed pebble, making it easy to walk, bike, run and push prams on.

Work on the first stage is due to begin in April 2024. Dates for stages 2- 4 are yet to be confirmed. 

The public can get involved by attending the community open day at the Edgecumbe Library, where they can share their thoughts with the project team. 

We are leading development of the project, with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) providing advice and input regarding the shared pathway design along BOPRC managed stopbanks. There is an agreement in place outlining roles and responsibilities between the Council and BOPRC. It is clearly outlined that flood protection and drainage functions (including the management and maintenance of flood defences) remain a priority during the development of the shared pathway.

The completed project is anticipated to offer numerous benefits, including improved connectivity, increased outdoor activity opportunities, enhanced community well-being, and economic tourism diversity. The shared pathway aims to create a safer, more enjoyable environment for residents and visitors alike.

The project is funded through the 'Better Off Funding' initiative thanks to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). This project meets part of the criteria outlined by DIA, to deliver infrastructure and/or services that support local place-making and improvements to community well-being. This funding will support developing and enhancing our shared pathways throughout the Whakatāne District. 

The resurfacing of the existing track on College Road is intended to enhance the pathway while minimising disruption to the surrounding environment. Further assessments will be conducted during the planning stages of stages 2-4.

This is a pathway for active modes of transport such as walking and cycling and is not intended for motorbikes. The intention is to install motorbike barriers along the pathway, called squeeze guards. These will be located at the entrance to the recreation reserve (skate park) close to the stopbank, at the entrance to Tanekaha Street, at the entrance adjacent to 89 College Road, and on the stopbank south of 35 College Road 20m south of the existing gate (gate to be relocated).

Because the pathway uses a fine crushed pebble as the base and has motorbike barriers, it may not be suitable for all wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters. The motorbike deterrents are restricted to a one metre clearance, which can fit some wheelchairs and mobility scooters but may not be wide enough for everyone.

The trail will be made up of two layers. The first layer of materials will form a depth of 80 millimetres, composing GAP40/TF40, essentially crushed rocks similar to what sits under our roads. The second 20mm layer will comprise either GAP20 or finer crusher dust to provide a smoother more water resistant layer. Pricing per delivered, compacted, and tested (for compaction) cubic meter is between $150-200 per cube.

A safety assessment is currently underway to examine the best options for crossing Thornton Road, including whether an underpass is achievable from an engineering perspective. We expect a final decision on this prior to Section 3 construction.

We are working with property owners along the proposed stage 2 section to assess land availability and address individual concerns. We hope to have further information on this and timeframes by mid 2024.

Whakatāne District Council only had a small window to apply for Better Off Funding from the central government in 2022. It was identified within Edgecumbe's Community Plan that a long-standing aspiration had been a connecting pathway through to Thornton. The Council have assisted in enabling this aspiration by applying for Better Off Funding to get this project underway. Now that we have this resource, we can get detailed engineering solutions, cycleway designs, pricing and further advice. Without the Better Off Funding, we would not be able to progress this.

The stopbanks are owned by BOPRC and any maintenance work to the stopbanks (flood protection) is undertaken by BOPRC. However, the Whakatāne District Council is responsible for the upkeep of the track, including mowing, rubbish removal,  trimming of any planting, spraying of weeds. Some maintenance costs have been factored into the $900,000 project budget. A further ongoing budget has been factored into the Long Term Plan in-line with the whole future trail network being developed as part of the Active Whakatāne Strategy. We have also had expressions of interest from community groups to help with funding this component, which is approximately $2000 per km of trail per year.