Pohara pedestrian and pedaller promenade officially opened
Cutting the ribbon are, from left, Jane Baird, Peter Woods and Victoria Davis. Photo: Ina Holst.
A karakia by John Ward-Holmes was part of the official opening of the Pohara walk and cycleway last Sunday.
“This project had its genesis last century,” said Golden Bay Community Board chair Joe Bell, in his address to a crowd of about 80 cyclists and walkers at the start of the new shoreline route.
Community requests to the TDC were first raised in the Pohara Annual Plan in 1998, following a suggestion of funding for a walkway as a consequence of Queen Beatrix’s visit. In 1999, a public meeting followed, and in 2003 the resource consent application process commenced.
“Community concerns from the outset were about safety, and led to the reduction in speed limit as the first step. Discussion then followed about minimising the removal of natural rock formations and trees, the band rotunda/path connection, width of path and whether the path should be shared or separate. The effects on penguins were also taken into account,” Mr Bell said in his summary of the project’s long history.
The final construction plans were discussed in March 2010, and a budget of $320,000 was set aside.
Mayor Richard Kempthorne praised everybody involved in the process, acknowledging that “active transport, cycling or walking, is a growing trend all councils are aware of.”
He said such projects were sometimes a challenge to council because of the size of the district, the pressure for affordable rates, and because a new government policy had ended all funding for walk and cycleways except in the large centres.
Councilor Noel Riley said that the completion of the project showed that Golden Bay could get what it wants when it persevered.
“It has been very worthwhile and I hope each of you makes the most of the walkway we have here today.”
With much clapping from the audience and approving woofs from dogs waiting to trial the path, three representatives from various groups cut a ribbon and a tyre tube in unison.
Peter Woods, representing the Pohara community, was the first to ride triumphantly the path (on a mobility scooter), followed on foot by Wednesday Walkers representative Jane Baird and BLIP’s Victoria Davis.
Victoria brought with her a sign showing a penguin sharing the footpath with the rest of the community.
Ina Holst
