A commuter cycle trail linking Snells Beach and Warkworth is one step closer after a study found the project is feasible.
The Snells Beach Ratepayers’ and Residents Association commissioned a $10,000 feasibility study last year, which was funded by a Rodney Local Board grant.
The report, produced by Frame Group consultants, says the 8km walkway/cycle trail would cost about $2.5 million, with an annual maintenance cost of about $20-30,000.
The trail would traverse a number of formed roads, paper roads, DOC and Auckland Council reserve land and private land, roughly following the course of the Mahurangi River.
The preferred route links the recently completed Te Whau Walkway at the end of Hamatana Road, through to Grange Street, Lawrie Road, Hamilton Road and Duck Creek Road, before heading along the Mahurangi River bank to Warkworth.
The route would require 4.9km of new trail, which would be engineered to a standard to comfortably cater for both walkers and cyclists – a fit cyclist could make the one-way trip in 30 minutes.
A number of alternative routes have also been explored, including a trail into Lawrie Reserve, near Snells Beach.
The preferred route impacts two private landowners in small sections of the trail on the Mahurangi River. Alternative routes also impact about six landowners, all of whom have been informed of the proposal.
The report includes an estimated breakdown of costs, with $1.9 million for construction, $192,000 for the design, $215,000 for consents and $220,000 for the project management.
The trail could be completed for about $1.5-$2 million if it was constructed to only cater for pedestrians, but it would cost significantly more to upgrade it to cater for cyclists at a later date.
The project has been driven by a sub-committee of the ratepayers’ association. Committee member Gary Heaven says the group worked to stretch the $10,000 grant, contributing at least 350 skilled volunteer hours investigating the trail.
“We’ve ended up with a report which would cost at least $50,000.”
Mr Heaven says he expects it will take a couple of years to fundraise for the project, and another two years to build it.
The Rodney Local Board’s transport advocacy plan, released last month, says it wants to progress walkway/cycleway connections between Warkworth, Snells Beach and Matakana within five years.
The report adds to a Rodney District Council-funded feasibility study that Frame Group carried out in 2009, which was for a walking track along the Mahurangi River, from Warkworth to a point opposite the Old Cement Works.
