Rodney Local Board has allocated $250,000 to carry out feasibility studies on four potential walking and cycling paths in Kumeū-Huapai, Ōmaha, Riverhead and Wellsford.
Brent Bailey, the board’s Parks and Recreation Committee Chair says the paths are from greenways plans adopted by the local board after community consultation.
“We want to get paths built and operating as soon as possible but it’s important to investigate the viability of each one before it’s designed.
“Council staff will work with the community to establish detailed routes for each path,” he says.
The proposed paths are:
- Wellsford – the shared path will start at Matheson Road and run along Centennial Park Road to Centennial Park, where it will become a circuit around the southern part of the park (Wellsford Greenways Plan, route ID G2)
- Kumeū-Huapai – the shared path will start at Oraha Road and run along the southern side of Kumeū River through the Esplanade Reserve to Weza Lane (Kumeū, Huapai, Waimauku and Riverhead Greenways Plan, route ID 6)
- Riverhead – the shared path will start at Riverhead War Memorial Park and run along Victoria Street where it will connect with George Street, Sussex Terrace and Kent Street. This path will connect the unformed parts of these streets (Kumeū, Huapai, Waimauku and Riverhead Greenways Plan, route ID 8)
- Omaha – the loop walk will include the Omaha Taniko Wetlands Walk and link Omaha to the wider greenways network (Pūhoi to Pakiri Greenways Plan, route ID 24).
The local board has also asked Auckland Transport to undertake feasibility studies on two routes in the Pūhoi to Pakiri Greenways Plan:
- Mahurangi College – The Grange – Eastern Suburbs – route ID 10
- Matakana East Bridle Path and Cycleway – route ID 22.
Once studies establish that a route is viable, the next steps are design, landowner approval and regulatory requirements. Funding will also need to be found before work can start.
