Our coastal walkway needs your support
Author: Adele Mangnall
As you know, the Coastal Walkway, situated on the coastline between Langs Beach and Waipu Cove, offers spectacular views of Bream Bay to walkers, hikers, and trampers. It is considered one of the best coastal walks in New Zealand and features in many tourism Northland publications - with views to the Hen and Chickens (Taranga) Great Barrier (Aotea) and Little Barrier, and on a good day the Mokehinaus, not to mention the limestone pancake rocks along the coastline – a distinctive feature which can be seen on the coast only here and at Punakaiki in the South Island.
As both a local and public amenity it is priceless. What better than a walk at low tide from the beach at Langs, or Ding Bay or Cove Road to Waipu Cove with the promise of a coffee or ice cream at the other end?
The track passes through public and private land most of which is controlled by the Whangarei District Council (WDC). The Wairahi Tracks Charitable Trust (WTCT) was concerned that the track was not up to the standard you would expect for a track of this importance and reached an agreement with WDC to upgrade and maintain the track, carrying on the foundation work of the Lions Club and the vision of the late Alan McKenzie.
The Ultimate Goal…in agreement with the Mangawhai Tracks Charitable Trust and the Waipu Walking and Cycleway Group is to develop a Master Plan for an integrated track network in the Piroa/Brynderwyn to best link Waipu in the North with Mangawhai in the South. The Coastal Walkway is a vital link in this plan.
The WTCT volunteer group, Friday Trackies Group, has made much progress over the past year in improving the track surface. However, that work came to a halt in June when wet conditions made the track slippery and dangerous, and the WDC closed it. It quickly became clear to WTCT that the track was not going to open again until steps had been built in the dangerous locations, and yet we were determined that the track should be open for the coming Christmas season.
After some constructive discussions with key WDC Officers, it was agreed that construction of the steps was an urgent priority and that the necessary work should commence.
WDC had $26k available from this year’s budget and WTCT had $10k available from a special grant, enough to get the work underway but not enough to cover the contractors full estimate of $96k.
The WDC contractor (Northland Parkcare) has started the work on the understanding that WTCT is confident it can raise the additional funds required and work will continue as long as funds allow. We would be very disappointed to have to halt the work part way through and are hopeful that the community will rally around with financial support to ensure this doesn’t happen.
The total estimate for the Coastal Walkway Project is $96K. We have $36K in hand, we need a further $60K to complete stage 1 and stage 2 of the project.
Some generous supporters have already donated a total of $15k, so we have got off to good start, but your support is still essential. If we were to receive an average donation of $500 from our current network of supporters, we would meet our target – however we would be grateful for any amount you felt comfortable contributing to our project.
Please consider helping us by donating to the Wairahi Tracks Charitable Trust: Account Number: 12-3019-0039021-00
Please reference your surname when making a donation.
All donations will be receipted and are tax deductible.
The Project - will upgrade the track to an all-weather track that can be safely enjoyed all year-round while will still retaining much of its special character - involving ducking branches and scrambling over rocks here and there.
The map below shows the 39 points along the trail where steps and culverts are expected to be installed.
The WTCT volunteers are involved in securing materials, pre-cutting timber, bagging metal, and delivering these to site, as well as the subsequent levelling and metalling of the track surface between the steps.
Materials are being generously provided by local businesses at heavily discounted prices such as timber from Northpine, nails from Waipu ITM, and free shingle from Mountfield Quarries.
The four stages of the project are:
Stage One (underway)- Constructing steps in steep and slippery sections, and through volunteer efforts to make the track safe to open this summer. The construction of culverts and steps is being performed by Northland Park Care Limited (NPC) to professional standards.
Stage Two - Installation of 4 culverts in the several boggy sections at the western (Waipu Cove) end of the trail. Pending funds, this work will also be undertaken by NPC.
Stage Three - This will involve continuing with the widening and levelling of the remaining 1km of the track. The WTCT will continue its volunteer work to bench the track and metal the surface. If sufficient sums can be raised, the use of helicopters to position the metal on difficult parts of the track will be considered. This would make an enormous difference to volunteer efforts, but the costings have not been included in the budget at this point.
Stage Four - This would include improving the track between Waterman Drive and Ding Bay, building some steps, and laying metal on the track surface. It is currently passable but can be improved, when time and finance allow.
For more information… or if you have questions, please contact Mary Sinclair, marysi@xtra.co.nz or 027 2968151
New volunteers to join the team also very welcome!