Skip to main content

What Matters to You?

Help shape a 10-year Plan for our district. Tell us the services you value most and where we should prioritise. You can also give feedback on draft Community Board Plans. Feedback closes 12 August. 

Have your say
News

NPDC takes close look at footpath faults

News Featured news
PUBLISHED: 3 MAR 2026
Share this article

Footpaths across the district are coming under the microscope with the help of a small buggy.

NPDC is digitally scanning all public footpaths over five weeks to record faults ranging from cracks and vegetation through to displacement.

“The buggy is really useful for this type of work,” says NPDC Transport Contract Programme Manager Tony Hellier.

“It means we’re detecting faults in a consistent way across more than 570km of footpath, and it can automatically record the location, size and severity of every fault.”

The data collected will help the council prioritise maintenance and repairs.

“This survey will help us focus our resources where they’re most needed,” says Tony.

The footpath survey takes place every three years.

At a glance:

  • In last year’s NPDC customer satisfaction survey, 76 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the quality and safety of footpaths, compared to an average of 53 per cent among our peer councils.
  • In 2025 NPDC received 232 alerts or complaints about footpaths.

Caption: Civil Engineering Technician Zaid Abdulmajeed gets ready to scan footpaths in Bell Block as part of a district-wide review of footpath quality.

Related news

A life saver for tradies: new million dollar waste sorting facility to open for region's businesses
NPDC to discuss Central Government’s Three Waters Reforms at Public Meeting
Historic touches in place as Pukekura Park transformed for footy

Page last updated: 09:23am Tue 03 March 2026

Contact us
06 759 6060 enquiries@npdc.govt.nz
Visit us

84 Liardet Street
New Plymouth

Search
Find by A–Z
Navigate
Useful links
Our NPDC family
New Zealand Government logo