Pathway planting in full swing

If you’ve driven along the East Taupo Arterial Highway in recent weeks you will have seen local contractors Arco Environmental hard at work planting the garden beds beside the new shared pathway.

Project manager Ben Schubert said 2000 square metres of garden beds had been prepared and planted out with 1800 native plants including flaxes, grasses, and flowering shrubs.

“The native plants are better suited to our local conditions as they are more resistant to our cold winters and dry, hot summers, and for that reason they require a lot less maintenance than non-native species,” he said.

“They are also more complementary to our central plateau landscape.”

While the planting has been on the go we have also been etching “Aroha Atu Aroha Mai/Share with Care” messaging into the concrete surface of the pathway and landscape architect Fraser Scott, who worked on the shared and Great Lake pathways, said it is a timely reminder that the pathway is for everyone to use.

“It’s really great to see so many people making the most of the shared pathway network. When they are busy, remember that walkers and joggers have the right of way, so if you are on two wheels please give way to those on foot.”