Raglan’s Town2Surf cycleway, a safe path connecting the town centre to the beach, has received a funding boost following Waikato District Council’s successful funding application to the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF).
Close to $1 million will be spent on completing the Town2Surf shared cycle path which will connect Raglan town centre via the pedestrian overbridge at Papahua Campground, along Marine Parade, and then Wainui Road to Wainui Reserve and its internal footpaths that connect to the beach and the popular mountain bike park.
The completed shared path will also provide a walking/cycling connection between both the Wainui Reserve and town centre for Poihākena Marae and the planned Papakāinga development.
Raglan Community Board Chairperson Gabrielle Parson says that the RCB have been discussing the placement of a new pedestrian crossing by the jetty and the Surf2Town cycleway path would begin around that area as well.
Contract Awarded for Raglan Wharf Project
The contract for the Raglan Wharf project has recently been awarded and remedial work to the piles is expected to begin soon as well as work on the pontoon.
Over the past 18 months costs associated with construction have risen and the scope of the new walkway has been scaled back due to these extra costs. Gabrielle says that in order for the full design that was presented to be built, extra funding will need to be secured
Trial For Intra-Raglan Bus Approved
A two-year trial of a Raglan bus service has been approved with funding from the Long Term Plan. Gabrielle says that next steps would involve the community providing feedback on what kind of service they would like to see.
She says that they hope to have the service up and running before summer and the community’s feedback will help inform things like the schedule and routes the bus will take.
Coastal Reserves Committee
The Raglan Coastal Committee that originally provided oversight over areas like Wainui Reserve and Manu Bay was dissolved by the council at the end of 2019 and since then the RCB have been tasked with creating a Coastal Reserves oversight group to provide a connection between the community and council on coastal reserve matters.
Gabrielle says that they have plans to hold a stakeholder meeting in August involving the various groups that use the reserves or have a connection to them.
Matariki ki Whāingaroa event
Around 500 people attended the community Matariki event at the end of June which was organised in collaboration with various community groups.
Gabrielle, who is also the Raglan Naturally Community-led Development Coordinatorsays that they were “Really pleased with the turnout.”
Community Planting Day coming up at the end of July for the new footpath linking Greenslade Road to Mahana Place (off Lorenzen Bay Road).
Wi Neera Walkway is planned for upgrades. The scope and funding for the work is expected to be submitted at the next community board meeting.