The Allan Turner Memorial Bridge has been temporarily closed after allegedly being tampered with.

The swing bridge, a popular walkway between Woodcock Rd, Tamahere and Fuchsia Lane, Matangi, was closed today after a contractor reported it appeared someone had tampered with some of the bridge’s bolts.

The restoration of Tamahere nature reserves got a boost today when some Hamilton bank staff swapped their offices for the outdoors.

Six staff from the BNZ Hamilton branch downed office tools and picked up gardening tools to join Tamahere conservationist Leo Koppens in two local reserves – the Tamahere Reserve on Tauwhare Rd, and the Allan Turner Reserve, on Woodcock Rd.

Their big day out was part of Closed for Good, the BNZ’s annual day of volunteering.

In a boost for Tamahere conservation projects two teams of professionals have weighed in to help the efforts of hardworking local volunteers today.

In the reserve below the Allan Turner Bridge on Woodcock Rd, arborists displayed their awe inspiring skills by painstakingly sawing down a 30 metre pine tree that threatened both the bridge and nearby power lines.

Meanwhile, in the Tamahere Reserve on Tauwhare Rd a construction team began work on a boardwalk which will stretch around 200m into the reserve.

The view from the Allan Turner suspension bridge has changed in recent weeks as a short stretch of walkway has been built below it along the Mangaharakeke Stream bank.

The bridge, opened last October, spans the Mangaharakeke Stream from Tamahere’s Woodcock Rd to Matangi’s Fuchsia Lane and has proved to be a popular walking and biking route for people in both communities.

Now, the start of another link between the two communities has been forged with the completion of a 250m stretch of walkway, which one day may reach 1.5km from the bridge to Bilsthorpe Lane in Matangi.

In a brief respite from rain and biting wind sun shone warmly on the official opening of the Allan Turner Walkway today.

Family, friends and former workmates of the late Waikato District Council staff member turned out initially in wet and chilly weather to see Allan Turner’s contribution to open spaces and walkways memorialised in a stunning suspension bridge across the Mangaharakeke stream.

But as the speeches began at 10am the sun broke through to reward the large crowd gathered on the Woodcock Rd side of the bridge, including Turner’s wife, Heather, and children, Emma and Matthew.

The Allan Turner Walkway, with its impressive suspension bridge, will be officially opened on Saturday, October 4.

Tamahere and Matangi residents are invited to attend the ceremony on site at the end of Woodcock Rd at 10am.

The suspension bridge across the Mangaharakeke stream connects Tamahere’s Woodcock Rd and Matangi’s Fuchsia Lane.

The suspension bridge across the Mangaharakeke stream, connecting Tamahere’s Woodcock Rd and Matangi’s Fuchsia Lane has been completed.

The bridge is part of the $535,000, 200m, Allan Turner Walkway, named for a Waikato District Council staff member who championed community open spaces and walkways and who died in 2012.

The public walkway will be suitable for walkers and cyclists.

Construction of a suspension bridge across the Mangaharakeke stream, connecting Tamahere’s Woodcock Rd and Matangi’s Fuchsia Lane has started.

The bridge is part of the $250,000, 200m, Allan Turner Walkway, named for a Waikato District Council staff member who championed community open spaces and walkways and who died in 2012.

The public walkway will be suitable for walkers and cyclists.

A passionate advocate for walkways and community connection was fittingly remembered in a ceremony today at the future site of a walkway that will link Tamahere and Matangi.

Around 30 people – family, friends, workmates and community members and representatives – gathered to remember the late Allan Turner, a long-serving Waikato District Council environment planner, who died in March 2012.

The service was held on Tamahere’s Woodcock Rd which by mid-2014 will be linked to Matangi’s Fuschia Lane by the Allan Turner Walkway.

A flurry of activity around Tamahere has brought new developments for walkers, drivers and those who catch the bus – with more major changes ahead.

Residents and travellers of Newell Rd have been contending with major roadworks for weeks as a large section of the road, stretching from near the SH 1 end, is resurfaced and a footpath put in at a cost of $736,580.

Meanwhile, catching the bus from the SH 1 on-ramp bus-stop has become a drier prospect after a shelter was put up this week.

A commemoration service on Saturday, May 11 will remember a long-serving WDC environment planner. The service will be held at the future site of the Allan Turner Walkway.