Te Awa River Ride finishes at the Gaslight Theatre in Cambridge but supporters have always favoured extending it over the Wastewater Pipe Bridge, pictured behind the sign. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The next stage of Te Awa River Ride – between Tamahere and Hamilton Gardens – is expected to open in a fortnight.
Te Awa chair Simon Perry told Waipā District Council this week there would be a “proper celebration” on March 25 at Hamilton Gardens.
The ride currently goes from Ngāruawahia to Hamilton and from Tamahere to Karāpiro but with patchy coverage in Cambridge.
Part of the Te Awa River Ride between the Velodrome and Tamahere
“Our trust has been focussed on building the trail. We’re now putting our tourism hats on.”
It was looking at ways to create a safe passage through Cambridge from the Gaslight Theatre – where Te Awa currently finishes – to Carlyle Street in Leamington where the river ride picks up again and goes through to Karāpiro.
Te Awa supporters have always favoured adding a cycle way to the Cambridge Wastewater Pipe Bridge which was upgraded in 2018.
Council did investigate the option of changing the sewer pipe to provide a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the river.
But a feasibility report, commissioned in 2014, estimated the cost at $17.7 million.
Both banksides are in private ownership and land access negotiations to allow public access would have required additional time and funding which the council did not have.
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- Te Awa River Ride at Tamahere
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- Te Awa River Ride finishes at the Gaslight Theatre in Cambridge but supporters have always favoured extending it over the Wastewater Pipe Bridge, pictured behind the sign. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
