Patron ‘stoked’ with $35m for coastal path
A lot of the housing and streets and businesses have effectively turned their backs on Te Whau estuary. This will completely open up all the dead-end streets and allow people to effectively access the parks and pathways. Te Whau Trust patron Ross Clow
A coastal pathway for walkers, runners and cyclists connecting the Manukau and Waitemat¯a harbours is being given a $35 million lifeline by the Government.
The Te Whau coastal pathway is among the projects that the Government has decided to assist as part of its $3 billion Covid recovery infrastructure fund.
“Te Whau pathway will provide a safe walking and cycling route for kids getting to school, for commuters, and for recreation,” Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter told the Weekend Herald.
“The pathway, when complete, will connect the Manukau and Waitemata¯ harbours as well as 33 reserves, sports parks, local schools and the communities of Green Bay, New Lynn, Avondale, Kelston, Glendene and Te Atat¯u.”
The two metre-wide pathway is part of a $220m cycleway package, which Genter said would create 1000 jobs overall including 100 jobs to finish the pathway.
It was one of dozens of projects that Auckland Council put forward when the Government asked for shovel-ready projects for consideration.
Te Whau Trust patron Ross Clow said local communities have been wanting the pathway since 2014.
“But due to the Covid crisis, this would have dragged out for many, many years. I am pretty damn stoked [with today’s announcement].”
About 4km out of the pathway’s 15km have been completed so far — at a cost of $7m shared by two local boards, Auckland Transport and The Trusts Community Foundation, which runs the pokie machines in licensing trust outlets around the country.
Clow said the pathway would bring social benefits as well as economic ones.
“A lot of the housing and streets and businesses have effectively turned their backs on Te Whau estuary.
“This will completely open up all the deadend streets and allow people to effectively access the parks and pathways.”
Modelling had showed a $2.50 return for every $1 invested, he said.
With the funding announcement, he hoped the remaining 11km would be completed by the end of 2022.
Genter said other cycleways in the $220m package would be announced in coming weeks.