On 12 September 2024, the Environment and Infrastructure Committee voted against the proposal to revoke the Half Cost Path Policy following public consultation. As a result, no changes will be made to the existing policy. Further information on the Half Cost Path Policy will be provided on the Council website soon.

What is the Half Cost Path Policy?

The policy arose out of a historical agreement that Wellington City Council would fund 50 percent of the maintenance costs of ‘half cost paths’. These are pedestrian paths on Council land, usually road reserves (the strip of land between your property's front boundary and an existing formed road or footpath) that provide sole access to three or more private properties. The remaining 50 percent of the maintenance costs are the joint responsibility of the property owners who share the path.

There are approximately 288 historical half cost paths serving 1,018 private properties in Wellington.

Maintenance work associated with these paths include the surface, steps, handrails, and stormwater channels.

Why are we reviewing the policy?

The current policy originated in 1934 and was introduced on the basis that enough pedestrians were using the paths to warrant community funding. However, Wellington City Council is the only major city to continue to operate such a policy in New Zealand.

The historical policy does not work well for either the Council or the property owner as:

• The policy is not well understood or applied, particularly in relation to the extent of half cost paths and the scope of the maintenance.  
• The Council has no legal obligation to provide funding, leading to equity concerns among private property owners.
• The policy is operationally and financially challenging to administer.
• The policy does not address the maintenance responsibilities associated with retaining walls and other structures built to support a half cost path.

What are we proposing?

Based on an initial analysis of the policy, particularly its public and private benefits assessment, we are proposing to revoke the policy. This would mean that private property owners would take full responsibility for the maintenance of the pedestrian access paths from which they benefit, including any retaining walls and structures which support the path.

The Council assessed five options for the ongoing maintenance of these paths against a range of policy objectives and consider that revoking the policy will:

• Ensure that the Council’s health and safety obligations as a landowner are consistent.

• Avoid perceived inequity among private property owners.
• Avoid further stretching of the Council’s budget. 

The Council would carry out necessary maintenance work to bring all the paths and related retaining structures to meet ‘like for like standards’ for access and safety needs before private property owners take over the responsibility. Current property owners will be clearly communicated to about their maintenance and renewal obligations. 

The survey has now concluded.