Walking and Cycling

Gisborne's walkway / cycleway that follows the river from the Peel Street bridge to Waikanae is well-used and enjoyed.  

In polls, at public meetings and in submissions more cycle and walkways is one of the things you most want from Council.

What we plan to do

Council intends to extend the existing city cycle and walkway in three sections. Each will be built in several stages as shown on the three maps below.

1. Waikanae Beach – from Customhouse Street to Midway Surf Club

Cost: $650k
Construction - beginning 2012/13 and completed 2014/15

2. Beside Waikanae Creek - Grey Street through Alfred Cox Park to Stanley Road

Cost: $708k
Construction - beginning 2012/13 and completed 2015/16

3. Along Taruheru River – From Bright Street to Campion Road

Cost: $2.2m
Construction - beginning 2015/16 and completed 2020/21

Council is proposing to pay $1.2 million of the design and build costs using its Financial Contributions Reserve Fund, meaning the project won’t be paid for from rates. Council hopes the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) will pay the remaining $2.4 million. Council has a walking and cycling strategy that is dependent on New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) funding which at this stage is due to be revised. If NZTA do not fund the project Council plans to pay for the three extensions using all of the Financial Contributions Reserves Fund, which stands at $2.25million, and loans to pay for the rest.

But what about the Kaiti to Wainui cycleway?

There’s a lot of community support for a cycle and walkway between Kaiti and Wainui. However this cycleway would need to be 100% funded by NZTA (estimated at $723k) because Council’s Financial Contributions Reserve can’t be used on road reserves. NZTA funding for the three cycleway extensions as well as the Kaiti to Wainui cycleway are included in the draft Regional Land Transport Programme, which is being consulted on at the same time as the 2012-2022 Ten Year Plan. If you want NZTA to fund any or all of these projects – make a submission!

Plan of the cycle and walkways