City walkway set to officially open

AT THE BEGINNING: The gateway to the Westmere Walkway is being upgraded. PHOTO/FILE A_161210WCSMWALKWAY-1

Wanganui's Westmere Walkway now has an easement formally granting public access, which will be celebrated on Monday.

The walkway was opened in 2007. It takes off from Kelvin St in Aramoho and heads across to Matipo Park, with a shorter route for returning to Kelvin St. It is on farmland owned by Hugh and Maud Reid.

The walkway was developed by the Rotary Club of Wanganui.

The club's special project committee chairman, Dennis Brown, said the easement formalities were done last year and the walkway was now gazetted under the Walking Access Act 2008.

Westmere Walkway is about 5.4km, if the full loop is done.

It takes about one-and-a-half hours. Landowner Mr Reid was a public-spirited and community-minded man, Mr Brown said, and the walk was worthwhile.

"The view from the lookout is stunning - a great panorama out over the city and the river.

"He wanted to share that," Mr Brown said.

Now that it is gazetted, Wanganui District Council is the walkway's controlling authority.

Council workers have been replacing and painting marker posts, and the council has installed a sign in Kelvin St.

Garmac Engineering has made a new metal gate, to mark the new status.

That will be "opened" in a ceremony at 12.50pm on Monday. A member of the New Zealand Walking Access Commission is to attend.

The Rotary Club of Wanganui would continue to be involved with the track, Mr Brown said. More work in Matipo Park is planned, and the walkway could eventually be extended to Westmere and then Castlecliff.