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Hauraki Herald 19.05.2000

Walkways group looks to future

By HELEN MEIKLEJOHN

WAIHI. Setting up an incorporated society and developing walkways is the priority for the Waihi Walkways group.

Project facilitator Tessa MacKenzie says about 35 people attended a public meeting in April called to gauge support for a network of tracks in the area. The tracks would mostly be along public river reserves.

There was representation from environmental groups, local councils and iwi.

The walks, for young and old, would link in parts of Waihi township as well as neighbouring communities and would pass through places of cultural, environmental and historical significance.

"We want people to be able to walk from one place to another," says Mrs MacKenzie.

An incorporated society is necessary to carry out formal consultation, planning and development, and to be able to apply for funding from organisations like trusts, lottery boards and environmental and heritage groups.

"It is a huge project for the next five years at least," Mrs MacKenzie says. "We have been working on it for eighteen months now."

So far all the work has been carried out by volunteers, like Eric Lens, the main researcher.

Funding would enable the group to employ someone to develop the tracks and later to help cover ongoing maintenance.

Waihi District Walkways Inc. PO Box 241 Waihi New Zealand

Send e- mail to: Waihi Walkways