Wharf Road path another great community asset

February 11th, 2012
[by David Armstrong]

The fine work and dogged determination of Bob Cooke and Keep Motueka Beautiful was recognised this morning when the Wharf Road walking and cycling path was officially opened by Mayor Richard Kempthorne.

More than 60 people gathered at the High Street end of Wharf Road to hear from the people involved in building this top-class community asset, many of them people who had contributed hours and materials to ensure it happened. (See our earlier story on this project).

The group then walked along the new path to the eastern end, just past the floodgates, where a barbecue was put on by Keep Motueka Beautiful (KMB) members at the tiny Link Park. There, Bob showed where the final leg will be built this year to complete the inlet path, across a boardwalk to York Park.

He appealed for donations from the public to add to a generous donation already made by Talley's to make $20,000 for the boardwalk materials. The only other thing required was the resource consent for the construction across council land over hte mudflats.

At the opening ceremony a variety of people and groups who had made the project happen were thanked, including council staff, Corrections Department workers, DOC, KMB volunteers, several Motueka businesses, and Councillor Eileen Wilkins and community board chair David Ogilvie for providing connections with council.

Bob spoke briefly of some of the frustrations early in the project getting resource consents and finalising engineering works, but was clearly happy and proud of the the final achievement. David Ogilvie reminded supporters how important it was that Motueka people look after their own estuary system and make it an important part of the life of the town.

Before helping two children to cut the ribbon, Richard Kempthorne said how important it was that Motueka people worked with council to develop assets such as these, especially when government funding dries up.

Speakers: Bob Cooke (left), Richard Kempthorne and David Ogilvie	Cutting the official ribbon
Stepping out ....	.... along the Wharf Road foot and cycle path

Destination Link Park ....

.... and an enjoyable BBQ hosted by TDC and KMB

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