Walkway awaits volunteers

A walkway through the taniko forest, at the entrance to Omaha and along the upper Whangateau estuary, has been pegged and is now awaiting some volunteer support.

Omaha Beach Community president Graham Painter says the walkway will be half metal, half timber, and a bridge by the 8th golf tee would be an integral part of the project.

“In the event of a tsunami, the walkway will be pivotal should evacuation be necessary,” he said. “We’re now just looking for interested parties to pick it up and make it happen.”

The taniko forest is in a scientific reserve, administered by the Department of Conservation. Any work will need to meet environmental and recreational track service standards.

The total length of walkway will be about 1.6 to 1.8km.

DOC’s work in the reserve to date has mainly been pest management of pampas and other weeds, possum eradication, and some ecological surveying of fresh water native fish/mudfish.