The Tauranga, left, and Sydney footpaths. Photos / Supplied
The Tauranga, left, and Sydney footpaths. Photos / Supplied
A transtasman battle of the footpaths is brewing after a story about a wonky walkway in Tauranga went viral.
Images of the offending path, that runs for several hundred metres of Te Ranga Memorial Dr in The Lakes, were widely shared on social media after a former Bay of Plenty councillor complained about it.
The zig-zag footpath was described as "ridiculous" by former local councillor Murray Guy who posted photos of it on Facebook.
"Can't believe the ridiculous footpath and tree planting approved at The Lakes as seen this afternoon," Guy posted.
Guy said the footpath in the new development in Pyes Pa could cause serious accidents for users who might be vision impaired.
"How long before multiple accidents, frustrations, for variety of users, mobility impaired, sight impaired, children on skateboards," he said.
"Personally, seriously gutted to realise our newest developments are unable to apply common sense to plantings, safe road options. Gutted. Bloody bulls***."
Now a footpath that has baffled residents in a Sydney beach-side suburb has been put forward as a contender to match the Kiwi construction.
The footpath in the suburb of Sandringahm bears a striking resemblance to the Tauranga walkway, according to local resident Ben.
Curvy footpath on Te Ranga Memorial Dr, at the Lakes Subdivision. Photo / John Borren
The footpath in Sydney suburb of Sandringham. Photo / Supplied
"There is a similar silly footpath in the Sydney suburb of Sandringham on Clareville Avenue which has been around for years, and is similarly silly in design," Ben told Daily Mail Australia.
The Sydney footpath snakes around a light post and two speeding signs, which appear very close together.
"Not only [is there] the wavy footpath, but there must have been a 2-for-1 sale on speed zone signs, because as you'll note in the photos there are two 50km/h signs barely a few metres apart," Ben said.
Meanwhile, a Tauranga City councillor says the curvy footpath is no joke.
Tauranga councillor Catherine Stewart, who represents the Otumoetai/Pyes Pa ward, said the number of trees in the area was "going to cause problems in the future".
Stewart said this was a regular problem in areas of compact housing and she had seen examples in Papamoa where trees were planted in berms or traffic islands and had grown too large for the area.
"With compact housing, the trees are so close to the road and so close to the houses and infrastructure, there's just too many for a confined area."
