We’re excited to let you know that the Main Moutere Footpath (from Moutere Hills Community Centre to Upper Moutere Village) is nearly complete! The final day of construction is expected to be Friday 31 October 2025 – wahoo!
To celebrate, we’re planning a casual opening ceremony followed by a walk/bike/scooter along the new path and we hope to get plenty of kids and families along. We’d love for you to join us:
Date: Saturday 1 November
Time: 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM (and beyond!)
Meeting Point: Moutere Hills Community Centre
We have some great news to share - all land ownership issues for the proposed footpath route along the Moutere Highway have been resolved.
This means that Tasman District Council now owns all the land it needs to build the complete footpath between the Community Centre and the village. When the weather improves this summer (perhaps January/February 2025) Council will proceed to complete the footpath.
While it's been a slow (and at times painful) process, we are excited about making progress. What a great asset it will be for us all!
Tasman District Council have been working to secure the land required to complete the planned pathway, however unfortunately as of February 2021 have been unable to obtain a section required to complete the work.
As a result Tasman District Council inform us the pathway will not be able to be constructed this year as planned. However they are still committed to the project and aim to progress it in the future.
While this is a disappointing setback we are optimistic a solution can be found in the next year that will allow the project to continue.
Tasman District Council will post an update letter direct to some residents in the next few weeks.
TDC held two public meetings on 25 August 2020 to present the initial concept for the proposed footpath from Upper Moutere Village to the Community Centre.
TDC's road engineer Graham Rimmer and Transportation Manager Jamie McPherson presented proposal drawings and plans.
Both meetings were well-attended and a lot of overall positive feedback was provided. Our ward councillors were all in attendance, as were the principal of Upper Moutere School and representatives from other local community groups.
Click below for a collection of notes from the meetings, in case you were not able to attend.
Read more: Notes from the Public Footpath Meetings 25 Aug 2020
Prompted by questions at the public footpath consultation meetings, we are here summarising the various considerations and developments with regards to route options along the rivers:
History
For several years, the Moutere Hills Residents Association (MHRA) had been investigating the possibility to create a pathway between Kelling Road and Supplejack Valley Road alongside the Moutere River, or alternatively along the NZ Company Ditch to the East of the village.
As is the case for the highway route options, public land availability has always been a major limiting factor. Some sections of the river route had been available for the pathway at different times, but at no time was a complete, continuous route available.
See below for all the reasons now supporting the highway route.