A major infrastructure project aimed at improving coastal resilience and providing a shared walking and cycling path in Porirua has come to an abrupt halt following changes in government funding. The project, a $16.4 million initiative by the Porirua City Council, was designed to both strengthen the eroding coastline along Tītahi Bay Rd and create a 1.4-kilometre shared path for pedestrians and cyclists.
The dual-purpose plan, which dates back to a 2002 proposal for a harbour-side boardwalk, had reached the plan and design stage, with resource consents already granted. NZTA Waka Kotahi, had contributed $3.1 million towards the planning and design of the pathway. However, the agency recently confirmed it would not provide further funding for the construction phase, citing a change in transport priorities under the government’s new 10-year transport strategy.
According to a Porirua City Council update, the lack of funding from NZTA represents a significant risk to the project, labelling it a “go/no-go gate”. Transport manager Darrell Statham warned councillors during a workshop that NZTA’s emergency funding was unlikely to be allocated to the coastal protection efforts, as no immediate threat to the road was identified from a transport perspective. Nonetheless, the council plans to monitor the coastal erosion closely.