I whole heartedly support the Pilot Bay Boardwalk project.
The Mauao base track and summit walks area are amongst the top short walks in New Zealand, and used by close to a million people per year. This is more than most of our national parks. However, as it stands access to Mauao via Pilot Bay requires navigating roadways, car parks and scruffy grass verge. Walkers must cross congested roads at their peril.
If we ever hope to manage congestion at Mauao and improve user experiences it will be through initiatives like this that improve access and encourage people to enjoy the Mauao experience from farther afield.
When it was first constructed the Main Beach Boardwalk (3m wide) was an instant success. The more recent link to the base track in front of the camp ground has been a spectacular improvement. Such improvements cater to people wanting to be 'lead” through their Mauao experience and will not be to all people's liking. In my opinion, the boardwalk theme could/should eventually be extended to link Mauao (Mt Maunganui), Main Beach, Moturiki (Leisure Island), Hopukiore (Mt Drury) and Pilot Bay. It could even link through the Main Street to help the retailers.
The Pilot Bay Reserve is a spectacular place to view Tauranga harbour, the shipping, harbour activities and for young families to play in safe waters. It gets huge usage but is worn and in constant need of upgrade. Cars dominate the foreshore at Salisbury wharf and around the boat ramp.
A boardwalk along Pilot Bay will provide an enduring solution to a number of problems (cars, maintenance, conflict) that are likely to continue to grow. In my opinion, is will dramatically improve the Mauao experience for visitors and locals alike. The capital investment, in light of the huge numbers using Mauao, is modest.
Although some residents on the Mall may have a different point of view I ask that they consider the wider public interest and not seek to scuttle a wonderful opportunity.

(abridged)
Richard Hart, Mount Mauganui..