Volunteers needed to clear new Paengaroa to Okere cycle link

Volunteers are needed to help clear an overgrown forest trail near Paengaroa so that a beautiful piece of bush can be included in the Paengaroa to Rotorua cycle trail.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council is supporting the quest for funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to build a connection to the cycle trail from Paengaroa to Okere so that cyclists can avoid using a busy section of SH33.

A community working bee planned for Saturday, 8 September, will start manually clearing overgrowth on an old forestry walking trail through the Roydon Downs Scenic Reserve owned by the Department of Conservation.

The number of volunteers who turn up on the day is critical to the success of this cycleway.

Work on the Paengaroa to Okere link is being led by the Bay of Plenty Charitable Trails Trust and will potentially form part of the Tauranga Moana Cycle Trail and the National Cycle Trail. The project is partially funded by Western Bay of Plenty District Council which will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the trail.

NZTA has assessed the trail and is keen to continue to work together to explore funding opportunities.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council project coordinator Geoff Canham says the two-kilometre forest link is critical to the cycling route from Paengaroa as it enables cyclists to get off a busy stretch of SH33 for the trail route to Rotorua.

Please register your interest by 6 September 2018 at wboptrails@hotmail.com to take part in the community day. All volunteers will go into the draw for free pohutukawa trees from Geoff Canham Consulting and other spot prizes to be awarded.

TIME: 1pm, Saturday 8 September

Contact: 021849019

where to park: 556 Ridge Road, Paengaroa

There will be carpark attendants in dayglow vests at the road end (556 Ridge Road). Ridge Road is off the corner of Allport Road and Roydon Downs Road

Volunteers will need closed footwear, a water bottle and gloves. If possible volunteers are asked to bring non-motorised hand tools such as a pruning saw or secateurs. A BBQ will be in action on the day. Please leave dogs at home as the event will be held on a mixture of farmland and DOC Reserve where there is native fauna.