Te Whau Pathway moves forward

A recent Te Whau Day Out saw many locals out enjoying the autumn sunshine. Council staff introduced young and old to local plants and pests (above) while EcoMatters had their fleet of fun bikes available to try out and waka took visitors out on the Whau. Others just enjoyed the sunshine, looked at the plans for Te Whau Pathway or learned new craft skills. Photos by Bevis England. Te Whau Pathway is a transformational community/ council partnership project to build a 12-kilometre long shared walking and cycling path (plus about 3 km of connector paths), on and off road, to link the Waitematā and Manukau Harbours, between Te Atatū South and Green Bay.

It celebrates the portage of yesteryear when waka were carried from one harbour to the other. It is being developed as a partnership involving the Te Whau Coastal Walkway Environmental Trust (which secured initial funding), Auckland Council, Henderson-Massey and Whau Local Boards, Auckland Transport and mana whenua. It will provide a largely off-road path for walking and cycling connecting the Northwestern Cycleway, the New Lynn to Avondale cycleway currently under construction, and transport interchanges at New Lynn and Te Atatū. Funding of $35.3 million was provided by the government to Auckland Council as Covid-19 ‘shovel ready’ funding to construct Section Two (Olympic Park to Ken Maunder Park) and Section Five (Laurieston Park to the Northwestern Cycleway). These will be completed by 2024. Apart from the $35.3 million, some $9 million has also been provided by Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Henderson-Massey and Whau Local Boards, Transpower and fundraising by the Te Whau Coastal Walkway Trust which has included grants from TTCF (The Trusts Community Foundation).

Te Whau Pathway transverses a range of different environments, such as open fields, bridge structures and the coastal marine environment (which constitutes more than 50% of the pathway) to provide a unique, iconic and pleasant coastal experience.

The project contributes to the Auckland Plan outcomes for community belonging and participation, Māori identity and wellbeing, transport and access, and environment and cultural heritage. When completed, Te Whau Pathway will provide a direct benefit to 98,000 people in West Auckland and 17,487 students in 35 schools. As it is only 11.7 kilometres from the CBD, a 45-minute bike ride, it will also be of benefit to the greater Auckland community. Construction will generate 47 jobs per year on average over eight years.

Other benefits of the pathway include: • improved access to the coast and Whau river banks, • better connectivity to existing community assets (including 35 schools and 33 parks), • support for alternative modes of transport, • greater environmental awareness and environmental, social, cultural and health benefits, and • the potential for economic benefits from the pathway as a tourist attraction.

Te Whau Pathway has been granted a resource consent for Sections Two and Five. The other sections are under appeal to the Environment Court.

Auckland Council in partnership with the Whau Coastal Walkway will be carrying out community consultation on the design aspects of the pathway through workshops and pop-up events during June/July 2021. Details will be published on the web https://tewhaupathway. org.nz/ and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ TeWhauPathway/

– Tony Miguel