Improving safety and accessibility near Rautawhiri Park in Helensville

Engagement Outcome

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on the planned footpath outside Rautawhiri Park.

Community engagement for this project is now complete. After carefully considering the insights we received, we are proceeding with changes to the original design.

Raw supportive comments from the community

• "Love the path, it is definitely needed."
• "Glad to hear this is being actioned. I often walk my young children along this path, navigating the car park beside the tennis courts with no footpath can be hazardous at busy times."

We received a range of views from the community which we’ve summarised and responded to below:

• Request to extend the footpath all the way to the park

Our response

The Rodney Local Board has asked us to look into requests for extending the footpath to the playground. We will begin this investigation next year and provide an update to the community once the design is finalized.

• Request to extend the footpath and include a grass berm as a separator between the path and the road, ensuring a safer walking environment for children.

Our response

We are unable to move the footpath further away from the road due to the presence of Vector assets along Ruatwhiri Road. The footpath requires a minimum width of 1.8 meters.

• Request to extend footpath from 29 Cabeleigh Drive to the playground

Our response

Any additional footpath requests must be submitted through the Rodney Local Board, as this project is funded through the Rodney Targeted Rates Programme. The Rodney Local Board may be contacted through this webpage.

• Request to widen the road to allow parking at both sides, especially during game days

Our response

The heart of this project, funded through the Rodney Targeted Rates Programme, is to provide safe and well connected walking options for the Rodney community. Widening the road is out of the project scope but we have forwarded your request to the concerned team.

Request for a proper crossing especially for school children

Our response

This project is primarily focused on installing footpaths to provide safer walking options for the community, as funded by the Rodney Local Board. However, we have also created a case on your behalf and forwarded it to the appropriate team within AT for further investigation.

• Request to install streetlights between Awaroa Road and Mahi Road intersection

Our response

We want to assure the community that streetlights will be installed between Awaroa Road and Mahi Road to light up the new footpath.

What happens next

• We will work on updating the design with the extended footpath.
• Once finalised, we will share the updated design with the community.

• We will notify local residents and businesses when the new construction dates are confirmed

  
  

  
  

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About the project

We’re improving footpath safety on Rautawhiri Road in Helensville to provide safe, convenient and well-connected walking options for the community, especially those who visit Rautawhiri Park and nearby sports facilities.

Thanks to the Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate programme, this will support building more footpaths in local communities like yours to make it safer and easier for people to walk around. We want to provide you with safe, convenient, and well-connected walking options locally.

The changes we’re making

• Install a new footpath on the northern side of Rautawhiri Road from where the existing footpath stops until the entrance to Rautawhiri Park.
• Install new pram ramps with tactile pavers on both ends of the footpath. The ramps will make it safer and more convenient for people with mobility needs, those pushing prams or strollers, to navigate crossings more easily. Tactile pavers are yellow guidance markers at the crossing points to help vision impaired people cross the road safely.

Benefits to your community:

• Footpaths make it safer for the community by separating motorists and traffic from people on foot.  Widening the footpath gives more room for people to wait to cross 
• Well-maintained footpaths are safer for people who walk and ride their bikes and scooters, reducing the risk of being hurt or injured.  
• More footpaths make it easier and stress-free for the community to move around the neighbourhood, offering better connections to schools, parks, public transport and other local amenities.  
• Walking and cycling are good for the environment and good for your health. It helps reduce reliance on cars for local trips, decreasing traffic congestion and reducing our carbon emissions. 

How to contact us

If you'd like to speak to someone about our plans, please email us at ATengagement@at.govt.nz