Park Paths Impassable Four Days After Rain

Monday, 13 October 2025, 7:55 pm
Article: Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter

October 10, 2025

Diane McCarthy Local democracy reporter Whakatāne resident Des McClure says four days after rain is too long for Warren Park paths to still be under water. He doesn’t expect the paths through the notoriously swampy park to be perfect, but feels two days of fine weather should be enough to clear flooding that cuts him off from his quickest route to the supermarket and shops in Kopeopeo. 

He said it wouldn’t take a big spend for the council to improve the crushed limestone paths. 

“It just needs a couple of guys to pour a couple of loads of gravel on it,” he said. 

Mr McClure is mostly paralyzed down his right side due to a brain injury that occurred 30 years ago. He lives near the Peace Street entrance of the park and for the past 11 years has regularly walked through the park as it is the shortest route to the shopping centre. He doesn’t use a mobility scooter because he says walking is good rehab for him, but the extra distance to walk around the park is too far for him. 

The last time Whakatāne experienced heavy rain, in early September, he says it took four days before he could cross the park. You couldn't walk the track because there was bits of it that were under water and if you go off the track you then get into swampy land. 

“It's just real deep water. You can't see it, you just put your foot in and your foot keeps on going and going.” 

Two areas are particularly bad. The Peace Street end near the entrance of the hockey turf car park, which requires pedestrians to climb over the fencing when the field is boggy, and the bottom of the hill at the Domain Road end where the path has dipped where a culvert pipe goes under it. He went into the council to report the issue but says he was told by a staff member who visited the site after the ground had dried out that there was no problem with the path. “It's just infuriating,” Mr McClure said.

"You can see where the path is brown where the water has covered it for days." The council’s open spaces operations manager Ian Molony said the council was aware that the area west of the houses behind the dog park in Warren Park could become waterlogged after heavy or prolonged rainfall. “This is a naturally low-lying part of town, and while there is a culvert under the path, flooding in our reserves is becoming more common due to the increased intensity of rainfall events. 

“We haven’t received previous complaints about this specific issue, but we do understand the concern raised by the resident.” 

He said the track was primarily designed as a bike path. 

“When ground conditions aren’t suitable, the recommended route is via the existing footpath network - along Peace Street, up Eivers Road, and back into Warren Park near the playground. This is the safest option, especially in wet weather, and adds only a short distance to the journey. 

“We appreciate the feedback and will continue to monitor the area and consider future improvements where feasible.”

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