Te Puke walking and cycling infrastructure a step closer

Plans to make getting to and from Te Puke schools more walkable and cyclable just got a step closer to reality.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s $2.4million bid to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Transport Choices programme, will fund infrastructure projects that reduce Te Puke’s transport emissions by providing safe walking and cycling options.

A $350 million package, the Transport Choices aims to provide people in communities across Aotearoa New Zealand with a wider range of efficient, cost-effective and sustainable transport options.

The fund will see the creation of more transport options for communities, such as additional bus stops, bus prioritisation lanes, new cycleways, improvements to transport infrastructure around schools and improved walking access for neighbourhoods.

The programme also aims to help the Government meet emission reduction targets as well as address the current infrastructure deficit and meet future needs caused by population growth.

Gary Allis, Council’s Deputy CEO and General Manager Infrastructure Group is excited for what this could mean for whānau walking and cycling to school in Te Puke.

The recently approved Te Puke Walking and Cycling Master Plan, developed by the Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway Society with the Te Puke community, will be the foundation for scoping out this project. We’ll be working with Waka Kotahi to refine the initiatives you told us you need in your neighbourhoods, so you get what you need to easily move around Te Puke in ways that help us to protect our climate.

“Our proposal to Waka Kotahi was shaped around the community feedback from our walking and cycling action plan, so we can prioritise what you told us you need to help you walk and cycle more.

“Because we know that if we build it, you’ll use it. Everywhere we invest in walking and cycling we see more and more people getting out and enjoying it.

“And we’re keen to use this project at Te Puke schools, to demonstrate what’s possible, when you quickly provide people with more transport options, and making it easier to travel in ways that are good for all of us and our environment.”

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Manager Urban Mobility, Kathryn King says she is pleased Western Bay has received funding as part of the Transport Choices programme.

“The Transport Choices programme is supporting councils to give people more options in the way they travel. I’m pleased to say we received an outstanding response from councils around the country, embracing the opportunity to provide greater transport choices for their communities.

“Funding criteria specified projects that would deliver strategic cycling/micro mobility networks; create walkable neighbourhoods; support healthy school travel; or make public transport easier to use.

“The aim is to open up streets so everyone can get where they need to go in ways that are good for their health and the planet.”

The next step will see Council work with Waka Kotahi to further refine and scope our proposal, focused on providing more accessibility to schools in the Te Puke area and if successful, there will be kōrero with the community on the details of the planned improvements in 2023. The funding requires the improvements to be completed by June 2024.

The Transport Choices funding package is included within the Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF), a programme of work that will open our streets and help people in communities across the country get to where they need to go safely and efficiently.

Transport Choices funding is currently indicative until Waka Kotahi works with Councils to explore how projects can be progressed in line with Transport Choices timeframes. Funding allocations may be adjusted after this consultation.