Editorial: Careful steps on dune path

Papamoa has held a special place in my heart for more than 14 years.

My wife and I visited the seaside paradise many weekends when we lived in Hamilton and Auckland, and shifted there after moving to the Bay in 2002.

Our home was just a few minutes' walk from the white, sandy beach, a beach I consider to be one of the best I have been to.

We've since moved from Papamoa but I still love the place. A big attraction for me is its mix of natural beauty and urban development. It seems to have a balance, although this has been under pressure for years because of its booming population growth.

But I was still surprised when I heard of plans to build a 6.5km gravel cycleway and walkway through its magnificent dunes, as reported yesterday.

The Papamoa Rotary Club proposed the cycleway and the council agreed to include it in its draft coastal reserves management plan.

Of course, any such plan will always be controversial.

Outspoken councillor Murray Guy says it will happen "over my dead body". Papamoa Progressive Association chief Steve Morris says it will cause alarm among locals at first, but believes as long as it is narrow and follows the track already there it will be "great".

Other locals spoken to think it is a good idea.

A cycleway will be a great amenity for cyclists and walkers. Some say it will actually help protect the dunes.

It will continue the long-term trend of transforming Papamoa from a sleepy coastal village into a suburban seaside mini-city. And good on the Rotary Club for aiming to do something positive for the community.

But I have reservations. Where do we draw the line? At up to 2m wide and made of metal, what will be the overall environmental and aesthetic costs of this cycleway?

There has been plenty of development along the Papamoa beachside strip over the years. Houses and developments have spread out and it is important we retain some of its natural charm. This cycleway will carve yet another man-made structure through the natural environment.

The community needs more information and hopefully all interested people have their say. An artist's impression and community meetings would be helpful.

Careful consideration is needed before a final decision.