Politicians out planting as cycle trail takes shape

More than just trees may have been planted at an event in Waitati, where a trail for cycling and walking is under construction.

Sunday’s planting of 500 kānuka trees was also an opportunity to sow more support for the planned trail by showcasing progress, project co-ordinator Emily Cooper said.

"We had 25 people turn out on a stunning Blueskin Bay afternoon and it was really wonderful to be able to show them the amazing mahi that's been done so far," she said.

"We need all the advocacy we can get and seeing is believing."

The people invited to the event were asked to help plant trees around the built section of the trail as part of the viewing.

They included New Zealand First MP Mark Patterson, Green MP Scott Willis, Dunedin city councillors Mandy Mayhem and Brent Weatherall, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki representative Georgia-Rae Flack and Oceana Gold representative Callie Morgan.

Trees were donated by the rūnaka and Blueskin Nurseries.

The section of shared pathway under construction will join Doctors Point Rd, Waitati, to Mopanui Rd beside the Orokonui Ecosanctuary.

It was estimated in May last year to cost $1.15 million, or $1.28m if two years of cost escalation was allowed for.

The proposed path is part of the broader Coastal Communities Cycle Connection project that aims to provide an off-road route from Waikouaiti to Port Chalmers.

In a Facebook post, Mr Patterson congratulated Ms Cooper and the Dunedin Tracks Network Trust for their efforts, as well as Waitati landowners Graeme and Marie Bennett, who had allowed easement through their farm and who were "doing part of the development themselves".

A resource consent was granted last month for the section between Waitati and the ecosanctuary and volunteers had since started building the track.

"The current connection between these places can be characterised as a narrow rural road generally unsuitable for use by walkers and cyclists," the consent application said.

The proposed track was described, from the Mopanui Rd end, as heading initially along the ecosanctuary’s predator-proof fence line.

"The proposed alignment then turns from the edge of the predator-proof fence toward the pine forest where it crosses through an approximate 160m section of forest, having a zig-zag formation."

The track would emerge from the pine forest next to the Bennetts’ residence, "again zig-zagging down steep terrain before traversing more pasture to the north of the residence and joining up with the formed top section of Chelivode St".

Some of the trail would be two-way and parts would have separate one-way uphill and downhill segments.

grant.miller@odt.co.nz