Some Katikati residents concerned about Council's decision to move forward with constructing a 1.2 km concrete path through a local reserve have started an online petition in a last-ditch effort to stop the development.

'We are feeling stunned, frustrated and angry after Western Bay Councillors decided to forge ahead with constructing a wide concrete path for over a kilometre of a grass trail and investigate a green tint for the concrete,” says Katikati resident Tessa Blackett.

The approval of the plans for the path from Yeoman Bridge, the new footbridge near the mouth of the Uretara River, to Park Road Reserve, was announced by Western Bay of Plenty District Council on May 6.

'Katikati will soon have a new shared path to enjoy,” says a Council statement.

'Western Bay of Plenty District Council has now approved the plans, following the community having their say on the path's finishing touches – including opting to use a tinted concrete colour, either green or grey, to help the path blend into the environment.”

Walkers on the trail near Levley Lane. Photo: Tessa Blackett.

Council's reserves and facilities manager Peter Watson says the new path will enable more people to get out and about and enjoy the Esplanade Reserve.

'Our latest round of engagement with the community showed that majority of people (67.5 per cent) supported a tinted concrete pathway. Some people voiced concerns over the surface, and its visual impact, which was why we provided the community with the choice to use a tint to lessen the visual impact and address those concerns.”

Three opponents of the concrete path spoke at the council committee meeting, with others present in support.

A range of reasons were given against a concrete path with the opponents expressing concerns about council's public consultation.

One of the speakers, walker and cyclist Tessa Blackett, says she is 'appalled” at how this has played out.

'We think the concrete decision was made behind closed doors well before council conducted the only consultation with the community.”

Royal spoonbills on the river's edge. Photo: Tessa Blackett.

In 2019, a petition with 215 signatures opposing a concrete path was presented to council.

Tessa says the community heard nothing more about the project for three years, until they received a recent survey.

She says the survey said plans were almost complete, the path will be concrete, and 'before we pour the concrete” gave a choice of two concrete colours and asked for comments on the route.

The ‘have your say' survey was opened for community feedback from March 21, with the community also encouraged to submit their thoughts online by April 4. Nearby residents also received a survey postcard in the mail, which they were invited to complete and send back to Council.

'While the trail has been approved through the Katikati-Waihī Beach Reserve Management Plan (2018), it's important that we get the wider community's thoughts one last time prior to the construction phase, so we get the path right,” was written on the online link.

'We know people who were so disgusted they just threw it [the survey] away,” says Tessa.

'It did not ask about support for a concrete path, but the report on the results somehow divided responses into two categories: support or do not support. It seems this may have been set up to twist the results to suit council's desired outcome.”

She says the council had also promised to consider the petition in any consultation, but says it was not mentioned in the report.

Birds resting at the sandspit near Irwin Court. Photo: Tessa Blackett.

She says the Uretara Estuary trail is on the edge of town but that 'it's a beautiful green space that feels like a wilderness experience, with grass, large trees, wetland vegetation, birdlife and views across the water”.

Birdlife along the estuary include royal spoonbills and oystercatchers.

'This long wide concrete path will be like a road through it,” says Tessa.

'It's inappropriate, expensive, unnecessary and a very poor environmental choice. There are other ways to address the issues and enhance this area.”

This continuation of the Bird Walk is already recognised by council as a walkway and cycleway, so Tessa says a concrete path will not extend the network or make it more continuous.

Royal spoonbills feeding beside the trail. Photo: Tessa Blackett.

'It's already popular with a range of users: walkers, runners, cyclists, those on mobility scooters and families with strollers and small kids on bikes,” says Tessa.

'Concrete is a very hard surface for walkers and runners, there are safety concerns with speeds of cyclists, it will create a huge artificial scar on this landscape. What's more, many locals don't believe council are capable of constructing a good quality path, after seeing bad cracks and repairs nearby on a recently-constructed concrete path beside Summerset.”

Council's reserves and facilities manager Peter Watson says the Western Bay of Plenty District is following national and regional trends to encourage more shared paths like this, 'as a safe, and affordable way to get around while also providing health benefits to users”.

'We know that cycling is hard to beat and can often be the quickest form of transport for journeys of less than 5 km,” says Peter.

'And of course, walking is ideal for people of all ages and fitness levels. It can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be, making it accessible to all.

'This route already has a lot of users, including the likes of escooters, so we know there's a demand for this path and it will get a lot of good use,” says Peter.

Part of the narrower concrete path nearby beside Summerset. Photo: Tessa Blackett.

The finished track will be a green or grey tinted concrete, which Peter says will provide a hard finish that is a safer off-road route, with better longevity and maintenance costs.

'It also provides a more suitable surface for mobility scooters, wheelchair users, prams and the like,” says Peter.

The new shared path has been planned since 2018 when it was included in the adopted Kaitkati-Waihī Beach Reserve Management Plan.

The trail beside the Uretara River. Photo: Tessa Blackett.

Funding has been allocated through the Long-Term Plan 2021-31 process.

'We're incredibly disappointed with this decision,” says Tessa. 'We don't believe a concrete path is what the majority of the community want. The suggestion of a green tint just emphasises the complete lack of understanding of this special area, the issues and the community's views.

'We asked for genuine, constructive consultation with the community before decisions are made, but instead council decided they knew better and will now spend a huge amount of money to pave this paradise.”

Peter says although the current proposed route is well used, its mostly grass surface tends to get soggy in winter.

"Our final path design will provide more equitable access for mobility impaired reserve users, the elderly and children - which is very important to us,” says Peter.

"Paths like this one are an important part of helping people to feel like they belong in their communities. This path, and others like it, provide the facilities to connect people and help them stay active."

Peter says this path will provide another link in the trail network for the Katikati community and beyond, to enjoy the Esplanade Reserve, whose purpose under the Reserves Act is to secure access for the public.

"And by making sure the path is a hard surface, we're ensuring it suits as many people as possible, no matter their level of accessibility,' says Peter.

The proposal has been approved by council however opponents to the proposal have set up an online petition

The trail beside the Uretara River. Photo: Tessa Blackett.