An angry Otumoetai resident is questioning Tauranga City Council's motives as it moves to sell off and close a popular public walkway.

This week TCC sent out letters of interest to Ngatai Road and Seaway Terrace residents stating, for safety reasons, Council is considering permanently closing the accessway and selling the land.

Ngatai Road resident John Buck stands on the public grassed walkway. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

Tauranga City Council communications advisor Marcel Currin says the walkway is being closed for a combination of reasons – including safety and financial concerns.

'It is a very informal walkway that is not well used. There are safety issues with the railway crossing the middle of it, and the walkway is demanding on-going maintenance costs.”

Horrified Ngatai Road residents John and Margaret Buck have lived near the walkway for 17 years and firmly believe it is an integral part of the community and needs to stay.

'There are a lot of people that use it as a walkway, like school children from Otumoetai College if they live down here and by the beach. There's a lot of older people using it for exercise and walking their dogs,” says John.

'It's been a designated walkway for years and years. It's not advertised and unless you know where it is you can walk past it and not notice it, because it looks like you're walking on someone's property.”

He says for many years a neighbour maintained a section of the walkway at no cost to Council, before age caught up with him and he was no longer able to do so. He rang the council alerting of them of this, and the section was added to TCC's maintenance list.

Appalled at Council's decision to close the well-worn community track, John is questioning the true reasoning behind the decision.

'I wonder whether it's because they are cost cutting and think ‘Here's a good way we can get round this, by selling this land'.

'I have lived on the site for the last 17 years and during that time there have been no incidents at the railway line crossing.”

John believes Council have put little forethought into the ramifications of the considered decision. He says if the land at Ngatai Road end is sold contractors will not have access to undertake repairs on infrastructure.

Currently, some properties next to the walkway receive their power, telephone, and soon to be installed broadband connections from the supply cables run from Ngatai Road.

'I don't think they are up with that one; that would be my personal opinion.”

Marcel says there are currently no services in the walkway and is unaware of any plans to put an easement for non-council services.

Although overlooking the walkway by about four metres, John and Margaret are keeping their options open as to whether they will purchase the small section.

'I wouldn't believe I would, but I'm leaving my options open at this time.”