A new pedestrian bridge and shared path are now under construction at Waihī Beach, designed to make it easier for locals and visitors to walk or cycle into the town centre.
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council has confirmed that the project will connect Wilson Road and Edinburgh Street via a new bridge over Two Mile Creek. A boardwalk starting at the Wilson Road car park will lead to the bridge, which then continues as a shared concrete path suitable for both walking and cycling.
The pathway will be enhanced by a distinctive kōwhaiwhai pattern depicting the mangōpare (hammerhead shark), a symbol of strength and determination. The design, gifted by Te Whānau a Tauwhao, comes from the wharenui at Otawhiwhi Marae and was also featured in the recently opened Te Ara Mātauranga library and service centre.
“This new connection will make it simpler and more enjoyable to get around Waihī Beach without needing to jump in the car,” Council Cycleways Manager Scott Parker said in a release . “We’re grateful to Te Whānau a Tauwhao for sharing this kōwhaiwhai with the community. It’s a meaningful addition to the path and a way for everyone to walk with a deeper sense of place.”
To support increased access to the area, the land adjacent to the new path will remain in gravel for now, providing overflow car parking when needed.
Initiated by the Waihī Beach Community Board, the bridge and path are key elements of the Waihī Beach Town Centre Plan and are being funded through the Council’s Waihī Beach Structure Plan.
Construction is underway and is expected to be completed by mid-September 2025, weather permitting. During the works, part of the Wilson Road car park will be temporarily closed.
“There will be some noise and vibration during piling, especially early in the project,” Parker noted. “But all work will occur during daylight hours, and we’ll keep the community updated every step of the way.”
For ongoing updates and more information, visit: yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz/Wilson-rd-link-bridge.
