Mikayla Worth, with daughter Keitana Blackwood-Manukau, says something needs to be done about the hazardous wooden sections on the Hatea Loop. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Mikayla Worth, with daughter Keitana Blackwood-Manukau, says something needs to be done about the hazardous wooden sections on the Hatea Loop. Photo / Michael Cunningham
A Whangarei mother's concerns after she slipped carrying her 10-month-old on a wooden section of the Hatea Loop walkway will see action taken to prevent further accidents.
Mikayla Worth had been excited to walk the hyped pathway and set off with a friend and their respective babies along the 4kmtrail on sunny Saturday.
Ms Worth fell on a section of triangular boardwalk near the Waka and Wave sculpture, after the group turned around following a sudden downpour.
"I literally cannot explain the feeling knowing I had my baby in my arms," Ms Worth said.
"My heart pounded and I felt numb. Luckily I instantly wrapped my arm in behind her head as we landed on the concrete. I didn't care about my injury ... I just grazed up my elbow. My baby had slight red marks on her head but she wasn't hurt at all, thank God."
Ms Worth said her daughter Keitana had been in a pushchair, though she had picked her up to comfort her when it began to rain.
"I was so eager to do that walk as I'd never been there." Ms Worth said she would like to see Whangarei District Council investigate an anti-slip solution for the walkway.
WDC senior landscape architect Bruno Gilmour said an immediate solution to the slipperiness was being investigated after complaints from Ms Worth and other walkers. The section of boardwalk nearest the Town Basin playground was already water blasted regularly but Mr Gilmour said all sections including the triangular "bump outs" would now be water blasted to remove any slippery residue.
"In the long term we want to address it in a more fundamental way ... Chicken mesh works OK in the short term but creates bigger problems in the long term. We need to do something that makes it more practical to maintain as well as being attractive."
Mr Gilmour said he had spoken to Ms Worth to and ensure she was unharmed.
"We're aware of it and are doing everything we can to remedy it," he said.
Ms Worth said she thought the solution "sounded good".
"The walk was beautiful and looks great. So I will definitely be returning at some stage to finish our walk."
