Following the success of the Pakuranga Rotary Walkway, plans to expand the network of walkways along the Tamaki Estuary through to Highbrook is in the process of being finalised by Howick Local Board.
Currently, the section between Ti Rakau Dr Bridge, near Chipmunks on 241 Ti Rakau Dr, Pakuranga has been earmarked as the starting point for the walkway which will wind its way through to Trugwood Dr near Stonedon Dr, East Tamaki.
The idea is in line with the Healthy Howick initiative which was kick-started last year.
“With so much traffic congestion that has people sitting in the traffic for hours, the plan is to encourage people living in the area to walk or cycle to work using the walkway,” says Garry Boles, Howick Local Board who leads the parks and sports work programme for the local board.
“The walkway cuts out the back roads and offers a scenic view.
“Also, we want people to be aware of our coast line. We are going to tidy it up and make it look better,” he says.
As part of the Greenways plans, Mr Boles says that they are going to be interconnecting the whole area.
The local board is looking to develop its draft Greenways plan later this year.
The proposed walkway would link the various esplanade reserves along the way and also allow access to the recently completed Burswood Walkway in phase two of the proposed walkway.
The design of the project is expected to be included in the work programme for 2017/18 year, which the local board will be considering in the next few months.
“We have conducted a survey on how many people use walkways and the percentage is very high.”
Mr Boles says there are 277 parks in the Howick Ward area that includes Howick, Pakuranga and Botany, and some of them are in the process of being upgraded.
