Connecting Communities Together

Work is progressing well on developing a $450,000 5km multi-use loop track for Pātea.

Council's Community Development Manager Ella Borrows says in 2019, as part of the Council’s Pathways Programme, the Pātea Loop Track was identified and voted on as a priority.

“Council has been working for the better part of a year with Ngāti Ruanui, Department of Conservation and several key stakeholders,” she says. “This project is now in the physical works stage where you will start to see things change about the town with footpaths being installed in York and Kent Streets.”

When work has been completed, at the end of summer, there will be a 5km loop for people to use, with the option of a shorter 3.5km loop.

The route will start either on York Street or at Bourke’s Lookout. The 5km pathway from York Street will take our travellers up Bedford Street towards the Garden of Tutunui, left on to Egmont Street, through the Riverview lookout to Bourke's Lookout down the slope to Beach Road and back onto Turi Street to finish the route back at York Street. A shorter 3.5km pathway has also been added for travellers to travel through Kent Street.

There will be sections of concrete footpath, metal and boardwalk, and with the exception of one steep section with stairs, the pathway will be multi use for walkers, runners, cyclists and prams.

“Just so people are aware - the parking area outside of Pātea Area School on Kent Street is going to be brought slightly forward to make it safer for both school students, pedestrians and motorists alike,” says Ella. “Please don’t worry if you see work happening there, we are not removing the spaces at all, just developing the space so it can accommodate those who use their feet and those who use wheels to get to the school.”

“We are looking forward to seeing this pathway come to fruition and the community being able to enjoy it.”