Te Whau Pathway is a 12-kilometre shared walking and cycling path (plus about 3 km of connector paths), on and off road, linking the Waitematā Harbour with the Manukau Harbour, from Te Atatū Peninsula to Green Bay. It celebrates the portage of yesteryear when waka were carried from one harbour to the other.
The project is being developed as a partnership including the Whau Coastal Walkway Environmental Trust (which secured initial funding), Auckland Council, Henderson-Massey and Whau Local Boards, Auckland Transport and mana whenua. The pathway will provide a largely off-road path walking and cycling connection between the Northwestern Cycleway, the New Lynn to Avondale cycleway currently under construction, and transport interchanges at New Lynn and Te Atatu. It provides an alternative route and enhanced opportunities to walk and cycle to school, and to work, helping to address traffic congestion and pollution. Provision of greater public access to the Whau River will result in greater environmental awareness, improved water quality, restoration of the riparian margins, adding to the “green network”, and generate environmental, social, cultural and health benefits. Funding of $35.3 million was provided by the government to Auckland Council as Covid ‘shovel ready’ funding to construct Section 2 (Olympic Park to Ken Maunder Park) and Section 5 (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 The Trusts Community Foundation. Construction will generate on average 47 jobs per year over 8 years. The benefits of the pathway include improved access to the coast and stream banks, better connectivity for the community to existing community assets (including 35 schools and 33 local parks). In June/July 2021 there will be community consultation on the design pathway aspects, through workshops and pop-up events. Details will be published on the web https://tewhaupathway.org.nz/ and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TeWhauPathway/
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