Kamo Shared Path in Te Kamo - Stage 5
Published on 09 October 2024
After eight years of steady progress, the Kamo Shared Path now reaches all the way to Te Kamo Village.
“This is a major achievement for Whangārei and it is great to see it attract more users each week,” says Mayor Vince Cocurullo.
The shared path is one of three (Onerahi, Raumanga and Kamo) designed to get more Whangārei people off the road and moving, to and through town, by cycling or walking. More than 6,000 children could use these routes to get to schools that lie within 500m of the path.
“This shared pathway has all sorts of benefits, including better fitness, as it also helps to create a sense of community as people get to recognise fellow users along the way, and that makes life safer and more enjoyable.”
Councillor Simon Reid, Infrastructure Committee Chairman, says cycling numbers across the full network are increasing at an average of 25 to 30 per cent each month compared to the same month the year before.
June’s cycling counts increased by 25 per cent from 17,473 last year to 22,012 this year. May had the highest number of users with 26,165 in May this year, compared to 24,095 in May last year.
“The Kamo Shared Path’s success at this early stage is great news. It echoes the tremendous success we had with the Hātea Loop. It proves that when these kinds of facilities are provided, people will make excellent use of them.
“In 2016, we started on Stage 1 of the path, from Rust Avenue to Cross Street. In October the following year, we started on Stage 2, along the eastern side of the railway from Cross Street to Kamo Road.
Stage 3, from Kamo Road to Jack Street, and Stage 4, from Adams Place to Fisher Terrace and Kamo Intermediate School, opened in November 2019.
“Work on Stage 5, the connection between Fisher Terrace and Te Kamo Village, began in November 2023 and opened on 30 August 2024.”
He says work on the network of shared paths around the District started to come to life when Council adopted the Walking and Cycling Strategy to promote walking and cycling as an easy, safe and enjoyable way to get around our District.