Denby Road Pathway Opening

A big turnout is expected for the official opening of the Denby Road to Waihi Beach Pathway which takes place this coming Sunday 30 October at 11am.

South Taranaki District Council engineering group manager, Brent Manning, invites anyone planning to attend, to gather at the entrance of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Ruanui on Denby Road.

“We will start with a blessing by kaumatua Sandy Parata followed by the official opening by South Taranaki Mayor Ross Dunlop. Then the cyclists, runners and finally the walkers will be sent on their way down the 3.2km pathway to Waihi Beach Reserve,” says Mr Manning.

“Bottled water will be handed out along the route and a bbq and toilets will be provided at the Waihi Reserve so participants can wait until most people have come through before returning along the route to ease congestion on the pathway,” he says.

“We are also using the opening as bit of a fundraising event for the Samuel Gibson Trust, and there will be collection buckets for people to donate towards this worthy cause,” says Mr Manning.

The Samual Gibson Trust has been set up to help people with disabilities live full and meaningful lives. Samuel Gibson, was born in Hawera with brittle bone disease and sadly passed away earlier this year while training for a fundraising event to help a three year old boy in Christchurch with the same condition.

The Denby Road Pathway is the second pathway to be completed this year as part of an exciting three year programme being implemented by the South Taranaki District Council. The first pathway was the Manaia footpath extension which was opened on 23 September.

“The Council had seen a need for more safe and enjoyable places for people to walk or cycle that were not on roads and developed this programme to enhance the lifestyle and recreational opportunities across the district,” says Mr Manning.

The Denby Road project also involved replacing a single lane bridge on Denby Road with a two lane culvert and some road widening and realignment work which has enhanced the safety of the pathway for users and motorists.

“We have always known that Waihi Beach Reserve is a great destination; now we have made it safer and easier for walkers, runners and cyclists to get to,” he says.

The Denby Road Pathway cost $488,000 and is just one of five trails the Council is working on over the next three years, estimated to cost $1.24 million.

Thanks to existing reserves, roading subsidies from the NZ Transport Agency, some outside grants and contributions only $200,000 of the $1.24 million is being funded from rates.

ENDS

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