Save Waikawa footbridge

This petition seeks assurance from the Horowhenua District Council that a Waikawa footbridge will be retained into the future for the benefit of the Horowhenua community.

Why this petition ?

The footbridge has become part of Council discussions about Waikawa beach. There is an assumption by councillors that the bridge is not well used, and some Councillors have suggested the money dedicated to maintaining the bridge should be used elsewhere in the community as a priority. The Council have asked for more information about how well the bridge is used. A report will be presented to a Council meeting on November 27th, 2024. This petition is to highlight the level of support for the iconic Waikawa footbridge within the Waikawa / Manakau community, the Horowhenua region and beyond. Reference : Council Workshop - 11 September 2024

Here are some key points in relation to the bridge:

The bridge requires maintenance. Council staff said that the bridge could go for another 18 months without much attention but is then likely to require upgrading or replacing at that time. In previous Council budgets there has been annual funding allocated for bridge maintenance and eventual replacement. In the Council’s most recent Long-term Plan 2024-2044 this funding has been moved into a fund called Waikawa Beach Accessway.

NOTE: If you choose to sign up and support this petition to save the Waikawa beach footbridge, you will receive a verification email to confirm it is a valid email address, if it does not appear in your inbox in a few minutes, then check your SPAM / Junk mail / subscriptions or other folders depending on your mail provider. If you do not confirm, your support will not be counted.

It's time to 'Save our Bridge'

The Waikawa footbridge is iconic. It is the only pedestrian access to the north side of Waikawa Beach for locals and people from the Horowhenua region to wander through and enjoy the macrocarpa forest and giant dune-scape on the north side of the river.

If you are concerned that we might lose our footbridge in Waikawa village, then here is what you can do:

• Sign this petition
• Write to the Mayor and Councillors seeking assurance that the Council will not use the money earmarked for the maintaining the bridge for other purposes. Link to email the Mayor and Councillors
• Get out and walk the bridge – it’s important that we demonstrate the popularity of the bridge, but we know already that many of you do just that every day
• Forward this petition to other people, let them know the Waikawa bridge is at risk, and encourage them to take action, sign the petition or write to the councillors
• Attend the Council meeting at 1pm, 27th November, 2024 and show the council your support for retaining the Waikawa foot bridge

History

According to records in the Horowhenua council office a bridge has been located on the Waikawa stream since 1931, almost 100 years. Ever since the river moved south in the 1940's or 50's, a bridge has been required to access the area located on the north western side of the Waikawa stream.

The original bridge featured in the movie adaptation of The God Boy (by Ian Cross), which was filmed around Waikawa and Manakau in the mid-70’s. You can still watch it here on NZ On Screen.

A photographic image of the original bridge appears in the Horowhenua council chambers in Levin donated by the Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association.

This first rickety bridge survived 59 years, but was washed away in a storm and floods in March 1990.

After the bridge was washed away. The Ratepayers Association put a lot of pressure on the Council to replace the bridge and a replacement further downstream was opened in January 1992 at a cost of $78,000. It was built by the NZ army using the same steel used to build the Auckland Harbour bridge.

Bull-bars were added to restrict some vehicle access in 2017, and it was partially refurbished in 2018.

The bridge is the only access many disabled people have to get onto beach areas.

The WBRA will again be advocating to maintain the bridge access to the north side of the Waikawa estuary

How Horowhenua District Council describes Waikawa

Head over the Waikawa Beach Bridge!

On the other side there are so many activities you can do!!

On a night like tonight cool off with a dip in the sea, or kayak along the Estuary or simply spend the night skimming stones, how many bounces can you get?

Source : Horowhenua District council

Where is Waikawa Beach

Waikawa Beach is a small settlement in the Horowhenua District of the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the South Taranaki Bight at the mouth of Waikawa Stream, 7.5 kilometres northwest of Manakau, 19 kilometres southwest of Levin and 13 kilometres north or Otaki.

Pat O'Sullivan and Debra Betts as co-chairs of Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association    Contact the author of the petition