| 3 Kaikōura District Council: Kaikōura Link Pathway T T Kim Newth Kaikōura set for summer strolling Kaikōura’s new 4.2km Link Pathway provides a foreshore walkway all the way from the Esplanade/town centre and Fyffe Quay to Point Kean. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Now all but complete, Kaikōura’s new 4.2km Link Pathway provides a high quality foreshore walkway all the way from the Esplanade/town centre and Fyffe Quay to Point Kean. Rather than driving between attractions, it can now all be done safely by foot. The new pathway is shaping up to be a major drawcard for Kaikōura this summer. “As the second smallest Council in the country, we decided to make the most of our knowledge and skills by doing this project as a community,” says Mike Russell, Kaikōura District Council Works Manager. “A goal from the outset was to ensure we used local expertise and local resources as far as we could. Our staff and the local contractors we employed have all been really keen and passionate to get involved. The whole community is buzzing about it and it is something everyone can be really proud of. “In the mornings now, I often see people lining up on the Link Pathway near the Sudima Hotel to take pictures of the sunrise. It used to just be dirt and grass there; now that you can walk along it any time and not get your feet wet, it’s drawing plenty of visitors and local people of all ages to the foreshore. There’s a lot of history along the way - both pre-European and relating to the early whaling days - that we’re also aiming to weave into it with the help of the local museum, historical society and rūnanga.” The Kaikōura community has long considered options for a pathway like this connecting key points of interest such as the Kaikōura Museum, Memorial Gardens, historic Fyffe House and the seal colony at Point Kean. The opportunity to make it a reality came in 2021 when Kaikōura District Council was awarded $1.9m from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund to develop the pathway and make improvements to Dempsey’s track and the Peninsula lookout. The pathway also links through to an exciting new development at Wakatu Quay Wharf, where construction of a stunning new hospitality space is now underway and due to be completed by the end of 2025. The development will revamp the area once occupied by old commercial fishing buildings that suffered damage in the 2016 earthquake. With 90% of the pathway now finished and just a few small sections left to go, it is an exciting time for the town. Much of the new walkway, laid out to follow the curves of the beach, has a concrete finish. The dark charcoal colour was selected via a community vote. Mike observes that care was taken to protect the Esplanade’s iconic Norfolk Pines, now very old and not in best condition. While concrete path has been laid between trees, decking structures around the base of the trees ensure that water and light can still penetrate through to the roots. Safety for path users has been a core consideration in this project. For example, a new concrete wall was built to create additional width for the pathway to continue from Fyffe Quay to Jimmy Armers Beach and to provide separation between path and road for walkers. Kaikōura’s International Dark Sky Sanctuary status means there is no lighting along the pathway, but limestone chip down each side ensures people can still see find their way safely in low light. An existing section of timber boardwalk has also been resurfaced and widened to bring it up to standard. As well, the funding has enabled Dempsey’s Track, between Torquay Street and the lookout, to be widened and upgraded. “It means that if you’re on the Link Pathway and then decide to go up to the lookout, you can easily carry on into town.” KAIKOURA 218 Beach Road, Kaikoura Phone: 03 319 5447 Email: sales@kbcitm.co.nz www.itm.co.nz • Project Information • Trade Contacts • Frame and Truss Plant • Delivery • Estimating • All Building Supplies
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