Remuera resident and current Orakei Local Board member Troy Churton campaigned for the walkway during his time as chairman of the Hobson Community Board between 1998 - 2004. Subsequent community boards helped embed the project and bring a variety of stakeholders together during some related challenges in the Envrionment Court.

The end result is that we now have a management plan for the ongoing use, development and maintenance of the basin through a series of objectives and policies.

"The walkway enables recreational users to circumnavigate the Basin without having to compete with cars for safe carriage" he says. "It also offers great connectivity for residents to local rail stations and alternative arterial public tranpsort routes. Our local board is eager to promote more walkways and integrated solutions in the ward".

The Board has been asked to support establishing a new rail station further up purewa valley" "Imagine if we could create walkway conectivity between the meadowbank station side of purewa and kepa / kohimrarama road sides of the valley" he says. "The potential for eastern bays residents and selwyn college students to walk, cycle and link into public train services looks very attractive".

The walkway reaches from Orakei Rd adjacent to the railway line across to Purewa Rd, has a connecting footbridge across Orakei Creek and over to Lucerne Road where users can reconnect to existing walking tracks down into the Basin itself past the Auckland Water Ski Club.

"People have been giving overwhelming support for the thing. It's wanted and it's happening," Mr Churton says. "

ENDS

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