Importance of our future walkway
For those who say we don’t get a say in how things go in our district, they only have to look at the NPDC’s 10 Focus Areas questionnaire to see how much opportunity to have our say we have in our fine District.
There’s lots to talk over and the opportunity to be heard in our own words and our own time is undoubtedly there.
One of the most important issues is the future direction of the internationally renowned Coastal Walkway. Important because of the impact on our potentially future tourism market.
The current walkway is the one project that made our sparkling city-by-the-sea what it is today and is the reason why so many people returning to New Plymouth after being away for a while are so gobsmacked by how our city has grown up, especially as it’s located between Pukekura Park and the very beautiful and accessible coast.
The walkway is to be extended to Waitara and there are two options for the route, one is to stick to the coast which means skirting the airport and historical sites and the other is to go inland through residential land. Both have pros and cons but that’s the guts of it.
For me it has to be the coastal route. Imagine visitors hopping on an e-bike from the airport to the city on a sunny summer morning as a first experience of New Plymouth? Especially now we’ll be getting the new terminal, what a magnificent combo that would be.
The opportunities for a far wider understanding of local Iwi by biking or walking by the sites so important to the Puketapu hapu with decent interpretive boards would be an opportunity not to be missed. It would do so much for a better understanding of the unique history Taranaki has.
So what’s the alternative? Go through residential properties (yawn).
I cannot imagine why this would ever have any appeal. Sure it’s a practical option but to pick you way around people private houses is something walkers, cyclists and the residents themselves would baulk at. Certainly it’s the easier option but it’s hardly ever the easy option that bring the best results is it?
Fantastic that the walkway will go to Waitara too, another great opportunity that’s been needed for a while, so let’s make the best of it and keep the coastal walkway on the coast.
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