Stalled coastal pathway back on the table for Porirua
Fri, 9th Oct 2026 (Today)
A stalled plan to shore up the only road out of Tītahi Bay and build an accompanying shared pathway has been revived in the city council's long-term budget.
The Porirua City Council has now committed $14 million to the project between Wi Neera Dr and Onepoto and is hoping the Government will contribute another $10m, after it missed out on government funding in the previous National Land Transport Programme.
The council originally budgeted $10m over the next decade for strengthening the eroding coastline along Tītahi Bay Rd, according to papers for Thursday's meeting, with hopes that the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) could cover the other $10m.
That didn't include the $4m needed for harbourside planting and building a 1.4-km shared walking and cycling lane.
Councillors deadlocked 5-5 on an amendment by councillor Moira Lawler to include the $4m in the budget, but meeting chairperson Josh Trlin's casting vote approved the move.
First proposed in 2002 as a harbourside boardwalk, the project has resource consents and previously got $3.1m from NZTA for planning and designing. However, the Government's 10-year transport plan did not contribute money to building it in 2024, which brought the project to a halt.
An NZTA spokesperson said the project could be considered for government funding again for the next National Land Transport Programme in 2027 if there was backing from the long-term plan.
Lawler said her amendment was an attempt to "signal strategically" to residents the intention to proceed with the project, as the council might not exist after the next election. "That's why it's important to have on record our intention to do the whole project," she said.
Mayor Anita Baker was against it: "We're meant to be keeping our [rates] down. Spending more money just because you've got a credit card to put it on is not the right attitude."
The draft long-term plan is subject to public consultation next year.
With other potential new projects – such as $12.5m for road safety works, $3.5m to upgrade an intersection between Whitford Brown Dr and Okowai Rd and $1.5m for covered courts at Mungavin Ave – it adds to the $335m of basic capital spending in the next decade for maintenance, parks, public facilities and closing down Spicer Landfill.
Also included in the draft long-term plan was an extra $300,000 a year for animal control, to extend after-hours responses for dog control.
Meanwhile, councillors also directed officials to conduct a "light business case" on the traffic design and financial feasibility for a proposed second spectator stand at Porirua Park, opposite the existing Jerry Collins Stadium. It would take about six weeks, according to the council's infrastructure general manager Mike Mendonça.
The current rough estimate to build the 6000-seat stand and associated infrastructure was about $20m.
Some projects, like expanding the swimming pool at Te Rauparaha Arena and a new city centre playground, were not included in the long-term budgets.
