Reserve land being developed
WChris Steel
ork is under way to develop a piece of reserve land on the corner of Beach Rd and Park Rd in Katikati to provide better access, wider footpaths, seats, and a drinking water refill station.
Local business Fotheringhame Construction Limited was the successful tenderer for the job costing around $75,000 — the approved budget was $90,000.
Town promotions manager Jacqui Knight said whether people agree or not with the money being spent on the reserve, if council did not spend it there, it would be spent in another of the towns across the Western Bay and “at least it’s beautifying the area”.
“I believe that the water fountain is a great feature, the path through will be well used and the art installation planned on the power box is going to be stunning.”
The latter is still a work in progress and falls under the watchful eye of Katikati Open-Air Art.
The reserve project was identified in the Katikati/Waihi Beach Ward Reserve Management Plan adopted by Western Bay of Plenty District Council in December 2018 and funded in the 2019/20 financial year. The intent of the project was to upgrade and improve the recreation values associated with the small neighbourhood reserve.
As there was no existing concept plan for the reserve council engaged with identified stakeholder groups — Katikati Community Board, Katikati College, Katikati Community Centre and Ngai Tamawhariua — over three sessions at the Katikati Community Centre in spring 2019. The meetings provided guidance on community priorities for the space and helped with preparing the draft concept design plan.
Design features included new wider footpaths, new park furniture, plantings and replacing the old chain fence with bollards.
The draft concept design plan was presented to the Community Board on February 12, 2020 for feedback before being released to the stakeholder groups and immediate neighbours involved in the preengagement stage, for feedback, which closed on February 28.
The main feedback received was that while an upgrade was required, the reserve be kept passive and made more visible to the public and to be used for passive activities, ie, reading, sitting and enjoying the reserve; ensure the reserve supports a variety of active transport modes, eg. walking, cycling, running; future maintenance activities are of a higher level of service, eg grass cutting, keeping the reserve tidy; ensure the reserve connects to the community.
Peter Watson, council’s reserves and facilities manager, said they did a report to adopt the concept plan to the March 24 Policy Committee meeting. The majority of the works were planned to be completed during the school holidays after Term 1 to minimise school traffic disruption. Due to Covid-19 the project timing has been disrupted.
“Initially the project had a timing focus on delivering construction during the school holidays. Changes in deliveries and fabrication of amenities due to Covid may require construction activity longer than planned,” Peter said.
“The majority of the site works should be done by June 1, allowing for the footpath to be used. After June 1 there will be new grass sown and amenities such as benches installed,” he said.
A rubbish bin and a dog bag dispenser for dog owners will also be installed.
Jacqui said council sometimes operates in mysterious ways but she is fully behind investment in Katikati township.
“We have such beautiful parks and reserves, they are an attraction to Katikati and it’s wonderful when you can stumble across a little gem like this.
“I think that when the upgrade to this reserve is completed it will be a gem!”
There are some aspects of the project which are still a work in progress.
These include Katikati College’s horticultural garden as part of the college’s Horticulture Student Programme, the art mural design of the utility boxes at the reserve and a name and sign for the reserve.
A poster on the park project is in reception at the Katikati Community Centre if anyone wants to take a look.