Lake frontage pathway plan for Tekapo

A shared concrete track costing $450,000-$500,000 has been proposed along the Lake Tekapo frontage, a report tabled at the Tekapo Community Board meeting on Monday says.

The proposed track would replace the existing gravel track from the corner of State Highway 8 and Pioneer Drive to join the existing concrete pathway on Lakeside Drive.

‘‘The existing gravel track along the Lake Tekapo lakefront is being used more and more with the increase of visitors to the district,’’ community facilities and services officer Charlotte Borrell said in the report.

‘‘A safer more formalised meandering shared pathway would be advantageous to locals and visitors. This would allow a safe passage for prams and the mobility impaired, as well as less trip hazards in low light conditions whilst also encouraging people to engage in active modal choice e.g. walking, running, cycling.’’

She said the proposed new design using broomed finish, steel reinforced concrete would be longer lasting and would almost eliminate council maintenance costs and therefore reduce the cost to ratepayers.

‘‘Using local concrete is also more environmentally sustainable than transporting asphalt from Timaru.’’

The section from State Highway 8 to the Church of the Good Shepherd would be 2.4-2.5 metres wide and the section from there to the bottom of the hill would be 1.8-2m wide, protected by a fence of either bollards and wire rope or locally sourced rocks to prevent vehicles accessing the lakefront, the report says.

‘‘There is $226,000 for the ‘Lake Tekapo Domain Landscaping and Upgrade’ budgeted in the 2020 financial year,’’ Borrell said.

‘‘There is a carry forward of $220,000 unspent from the 2019 financial year. This allows sufficient funds for this project.’’

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has also approved 49 per cent funding for the project which will be available until June 30 so work would need to be complete by the end of April due to temperature restraints for concrete work, the report says.