In 2020 a group of locals formed a public Facebook group in support of a two-part cycleway to connect the communities of Waikouaiti-Karitane and Warrington/Evansdale-Waitati. That group now has over 500 members. With the feasibility study for the Coastal Communities Cycle Connection complete, we are embarking on getting shovel-ready. Resource consents, easements and detailed design processes have begun.

The vision for our full project is to connect the communities of Waikouaiti-Karitane and Warrington-Waitati with shared-use pathways, connecting these communities to the city and to Central and North Otago in the future.

The shared-use path will provide for safe, accessible and low-carbon active transport modes. Waikouaiti and Karitane are only 4km apart but there is no safe way to walk or ride between the two communities. This makes it difficult for many people to share local services.The people in Blueskin Bay also share many services, but there is no safe way to walk or ride between Waitati, Evansdale and Warrington.

Under the Dunedin Tracks Network Trust we received Lottery Community Facilities Funding for a technical feasibility study for our project, to be prepared by Hamish Seaton of Active Systems Ltd. That report has now been completed (June 2023) and it outlines the recommended routes for the proposed shared pathways to connect the coastal communities north of Dunedin to each other and the City.

Five sections of trail are described in the report. Section 1: Waikouaiti to Karitāne. • Section 2: Karitāne to Warrington • Section 3: Warrington to Evansdale. • Section 4: Evansdale to Waitati. • Section 5: Waitati to Port Chalmers (which connects to Dunedin via the Harbour Cycleway).