A previously unknown pā site on a landowner’s property near other known archaeology has not held up progress on Te Awa Cycleway’s northward route.
Work was stopped when the pā site was discovered. Heritage New Zealand and iwi were notified, and the site recorded in accordance with the heritage consent.
The features will be preserved by a sand layer underneath the concrete path.
The discovery did not delay the work and the cycleway is still expected to be complete in time for summer.
Once completed, the full Te Awa River Ride cycleway will span 70km, generally following the banks of the Waikato River, from Ngaruawahia, through Hamilton and Cambridge, finishing up at Horahora, south of Lake Karapiro.
The Hamilton to Cambridge section of the Te Awa River Ride is a 20km shared path, separated from traffic, that connects Hamilton, Tamahere Village, St Peters School, Avantidrome, and Cambridge with a safe, separated cycleway.
In a report to Waipā District Council’s Service Delivery committee, transportation manager Bryan Hudson said work is continuing on building concrete paths, boardwalks and retaining structure.
The cycle way is part of the $220 million cycleway package included in the Government’s $3 billion ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects. The project is jointly funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, and the Government’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.
