Check Out
Coming events and happenings in Omokoroa
Super Useful
Links to local information
Learn about
Omokoroa Projects
Accounts to Zips
Omokoroa has it all
WELCOME TO OMOKOROA
Omokoroa (pop 6050; 2021 est - and growing rapidly) is a settlement with extraordinary community spirit.
Omokoroa translated as the 'place of the long lizard' is an apt description of the peninsula which stretches from SH2 into the Tauranga Harbour.
Being just twenty minutes drive from Tauranga city and a mix of urban and orchards, it is a desirable place to live.
Amenities include the well respected Omokoroa Point School, a newly built medical complex, public library, cafes and shopping facilities. Residents fish or launch from the jetty, kayak, swim safely or enjoy the sporting facilities of a golf club, boat club, tennis club and field sports from the Western Avenue playing fields.
Try the bird trail walk with magnificent estuary and Kaimai views.
Walk or cycle to or from Tauranga on the fabulous Omokoroa-Tauranga Cycleway.
Enjoy your visit - you may never want to leave our paradise.
Work begins on new Ōmokoroa boardwalk
Work begins on a new boardwalk in Ōmokoroa from next week (Tuesday 5 October), completing the final part of a stormwater bund and walkway/cycleway project.
When finished, the 1.2km dual purpose bund will prevent flooding of the Ōmokoroa golf course and lower section of Precious Family Reserve, and function as a walkway/cycleway connecting to existing paths around Ōmokoroa.
Stages one and two of the bund construction are complete, and the final stage is the boardwalk through the wetland, linking the bund and trail to Kayelene Place.
A small section of the Kayelene Place trail will be closed while the boardwalk is under construction. The Kayelene Place trail is expected to reopen in December, when the boardwalk construction is complete, allowing people to walk or cycle from Kayelene Place to existing trails in the Precious Family Reserve.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Reserve and Facilities Manager, Peter Watson, says, “We’re thrilled to get this last section of trail underway and completed in time for the summer holiday period.
“People using the new boardwalk and bund will have great views of the ocean and wetland, and can link up with trails at Precious Family Reserve to extend their adventures around Ōmokoroa.
“We’d like to thank the Ōmokoroa Golf Club for their contribution and involvement in this project and remind everyone that the golf course is private land and to please keep to the walkway/cycleway.”
Council apologises to users of the walkway/cycleway for any inconvenience caused while the boardwalk is under construction.
The boardwalk project is part of a series of Council projects currently taking place across the Ōmokoroa peninsula to cater for subdivision and population growth between now and 2022. Council would also like to acknowledge TECT who have generously contributed to the long list of projects now taking place in Ōmokoroa.
About the Ōmokoroa Peninsula Projects
It is estimated that by 2050, the Ōmokoroa peninsula will be fully developed and home to 12,000 residents. To cater for this significant growth and the need for continuing improvements to the peninsula’s infrastructure, Council is undertaking a series of projects – roading, reserves, cycleways, stormwater, building and planning – between now and 2022.
Overall, there are more than 15 Council-initiated projects, along with private development, and which includes collaboration with tangata whenua, Pirirākau hapū; the Ministry of Education; and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. The total projects are estimated to cost $50 million, of which $14 million is co-funded by the Government under its Shovel Ready Infrastructure Programme.
For more information on current projects, visit Council’s ‘Ōmokoroa Peninsula Projects’ webpage and story map at westernbay.govt.nz/omokoroaprojects.
- Details
Pahoia cycleway bridge construction under way
A major step in connecting cyclists and walkers between Ōmokoroa and Pahoia will be taken this week, as construction of a new suspension bridge kicks off.
Part of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Pahoia cycleway project, the bridge crosses Waipapa Stream, connecting Prole Road to Pahoia when completed later this year.
Situated just downstream of the existing railway bridge, the new bridge will be 72 metres long and nearly 2 metres wide, allowing for cyclists and pedestrians to comfortably share the trail. The traditional suspension bridge design uses towers on either side of the Waipapa Stream, connected by tensioned wire cables.
Council’s Reserves and Facilities Projects and Assets Manager Scott Parker says the goal is for people to ride or walk from Ōmokoroa to Pahoia, without having to navigate State Highway 2. “We’re keen to help our avid cyclists and walkers to safely discover the Western Bay, and this new bridge is a key link in our long-term strategy to connect a trail from Ōmokoroa to Katikati and onto Waihi.”
“I’d like to acknowledge the neighbouring property owners, KiwiRail, Ngāti Hauā and Piriraku hapū - their support was crucial in getting the cycleway off the ground.”
Pirirakau hapū have also supplied designs for the cultural displays and design acknowledging the history of the area. The final steps will be to complete the trail connecting the new bridge to Pahoia Road, following KiwiRail approval and confirmed funding.
Although exciting, Scott asks that people please stay away from the construction site.
“Until the project is finished, the site isn’t accessible to the public. Please keep to existing routes for now.”
The new bridge is funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Council. Construction is expected to be complete in late 2021.
- Details
Council trails prove popular in lockdown
If you thought there were more people than normal on your neighbourhood walking tracks and cycling trails during lockdown, you probably weren’t wrong.
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s track counters on the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga Cycleway show that when compared to the same period last year (9 August – 8 September) weekday traffic was much higher in 2021. On weekends pedestrian numbers remained high but cycling traffic dropped off.
Council’s Reserves and Facilities Projects and Assets Manager, Scott Parker says “On the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga Cycleway, our Wairoa River counter showed the weekday pedestrian numbers were up by 100 percent and weekday cyclist numbers rose by 35 percent.
“Lockdown can be a really challenging time, so it’s good to see the Western Bay residents out on our trails, taking some time to look after themselves with a little bit of exercise and fresh air.”
Track counter numbers on Ōmokoroa to Tauranga Cycleway from 9 August – 8 September, compared with the same period in 2020:
- Plummers Point main counter
On weekdays, pedestrian count is up by 64 percent to a daily average of 98, and cyclists up by 37 percent to a daily average of 176.
On weekends, pedestrian count is up by 30 percent to a daily average of 147, and cyclists were down by 5 percent to a daily average of 409.
- Wairoa river cycleway counter
On weekdays, pedestrian count is up by 100 percent to a daily average of 91, and cyclists up by 35 percent to a daily average of 79.
On weekends, pedestrian count is up by 26 percent to a daily average of 140, and cyclists were down by 16 percent to a daily average of 212.
However there’s far more that the Western Bay of Plenty has to offer. Scott says, “It’s easy to forget how lucky we are in the Western Bay. We have colourful towns, beautiful beaches, stunning native forest and the rugged Kaimai Ranges – all in our backyard.
“Council is committed to maintaining a network of trails across the District, so we encourage everyone to get out there and start exploring.”
Visit Council’s website for more information on walkways and cycleways.
- Details