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Public support for Auckland Council’s proposed climate action targeted rate could be crucial to the development of a 117km trail from Mangawhai to Puhoi.
The rate is part of Council’s proposed budget for the 2022/23 financial year, which is out for public comment until March 28.
Matakana Coast Trail Trust chairs Aidan Bennett and Craig Donaldson say that if the rate is adopted, along with a $228 million commitment for walking and cycling, they are optimistic that the trail will receive funding as a ‘climate friendly’ project.
They are encouraging people to support the targeted rate in feedback. Council says the rate will be based on property values, with the median rural residential property paying $45.70 per annum, farm and lifestyle blocks around $67.70 and businesses $95.10.
“This is a real opportunity for us to get funding for stage one of the trail,” Bennett and Donaldson say.
The project is planned in three stages and will cost an estimated $50 million. When finished, it is forecast to handle some 410,000 individual trips annually, which in turn will generate an estimated $161 million a year, primarily through visitor expenditure, health benefits and job creation.
The pathway will be a chip seal surface, ranging from grades four to six, and will be suitable for cycling, walking and buggies.
Stage one will connect Warkworth, Snells Beach, Matakana, Omaha and Point Wells.
Public access is still being negotiated along the route, with two local farmers granting sizeable access easements. A further two landowners have agreed, in principle, and another landowner recently indicated they were open to an access easement. As well as private landholders, the route also involves the Department of Conservation, Rodney Local Board, Auckland Council and Auckland Transport.
The total length of stage one, including the existing Matakana to Point Wells trail, is 30 kilometres, with sections of this route already in use. These include 1.2km of trail running off Sandspit Road along Duck Creek through to Hamilton Road and a 400m section of trail developed by the Mahurangi Trail Society, connecting Hamatana Road and Grange Street in Snells Beach.
The trust is also working to complete a 2.1km section from Point Wells to the Matakana Country Park, which is effectively ready for construction, subject to funding and final community engagement steps.
The co-chairs say funding will need to come from both the private and public sector, so they are working closely with local MPs, ministers and entities such as Waka Kotahi NZTA.
“The trust also has an excellent Trail Working Group, which we oversee,” Donaldson says. “Their goal is for the us to finalise private landowner access discussions around October, which will inform the final location of the stage one route.
“We are also engaging with mana whenua on approvals and guidance on suitable route options. Around June, we plan to hold community engagement events and visits with residents/landowners living on the proposed stage one route to obtain feedback.”
Bennett says the trail is truly a community driven project.
“We take our hats off to the work that has already been done over the past 10 to 12 years by hard working community groups and the founding trustees, as well as the six current trustees who are also doing it for love.
“There are also lots of local individuals and businesses who are either putting their hands in their pockets or supporting us with pro-bono services. Hutchinson Engineering is a prime example. They have been a cornerstone supporter providing pro-bono engineering advice. We also have broad support from a range of resident and ratepayer associations, sports groups, trail groups, business associations and so on. It’s a great project because the ultimate winner is the community.”
To follow the progress of the trail, go to: www.mctt.org.nz
