Middlemarch speaker for Okaihau-Kaikohe rail corridor meeting

The development of a public walkway along the former Okaihau-Kaikohe railway corridor will take a further step forward at a public meeting scheduled for 17 February at Kaikohe.

An open invitation has been extended to all interested in the development of the walkway as both a new recreational facility for the mid-North and an opportunity to encourage the growth of commercial activities servicing the visitor industry.

Guest speaker at the public meeting will be Robin Thomas, a leader in the field of walkway management who has been closely associated with the Otago Railway Trust and the development of the 150-kilometre Otago (Middlemarch) Rail Track first established in 1989.

The Middlemarch project attracts over 40,000 visitors a year and has led to the rejuvenation of small communities along the trail. The project has provided a real boost to small businesses and has led to the development of bistros, café, bars, home-stays and associated services.

"The impact of developing a walkway along the 11-kilometre rail corridor from Okaihau to Kaikohe has just as much to offer the mid-North, Bay of Islands, the Far North and potentially the Northland region," Western (Kaikohe/Hokianga) Community Board chair Tracy Dalton says.

"Strong interest has already been shown in extending the walkway concept along the rail corridor to Kawakawa as a second stage in the development, possibly linking with the historic steam train at Kawakawa to provide a visitor experience right through to Opua," she says.

"There is the potential to open the door to a number of local business initiatives," Tracy says.

A working party to progress the project has already been established and the board wants to see as many people as possible at the public meeting to provide a mandate and to hear any new ideas on how the project can be advanced.

The meeting on Tuesday 17 February is at the Mid North Motor Inn at Kaikohe at 5.30 p.m.