$2.4m for ‘jewel’ of Lyall Bay
A patch of grass next to the back wall of a Wellington Briscoes could be transformed into an accessible park with toilets and changing rooms by the end of the year.
That’s the plan from a group of Lyall Bay locals, who have been working for the past five years to transform the overgrown city council-owned section into Huetepara Park.
It has been a community-driven project since the start, designed for accessibility and families.
The first stage of construction has had its funding doubled by the Wellington City Council, which is chipping in $2.4 million.
Local businesses have come on board to support, with Etch Architects designing the park and nearby Bunnings providing materials at cost price.
The project will go out to tender for a builder soon.
Resident Christian Bonnevie has been on the planning committee for Huetepara Park for the past year. As well as funding from the council, the group is looking to fundraise another $500,000.
He said the park, which includes toilets, changing rooms, a boardwalk and a viewing platform, would transform the underused space at the end of Lyall Bay.
‘‘We would love to see this up and running. It’s not just going to benefit the Lyall Bay community, but all of Wellington.’’
There were not enough facilities down the eastern end of the beach, he said, despite it being a popular spot with residents from other suburbs and tourists as well as locals.
Through community meetings the group identified accessibility for disabled people as a concern. For anyone in a wheelchair, the sea is not visible above the sand dunes.
That was where the idea for a viewing platform came from – and it had proved popular with surfers too, who would be able to find the best surf spots from the raised platform.
‘‘It’s exciting for people who currently can’t enjoy the beach, old people or people in a wheelchair, to come visit and watch the waves,’’ Bonnevie said.
Motukairangi Eastern ward councillors Tim Brown, Sarah Free and Teri O’Neill celebrated the win, which was one of the few funding increases included in the council’s scaled-back Annual Plan.
Brown said it was ‘‘an absolutely fantastic example of a community project where the group have worked really closely with the council’’.
It showed the council was willing to collaborate with the community to deliver popular projects in their neighbourhoods.
O’Neill said the eastern end of Lyall Bay, directly across the water from the airport, was one of the first spots many visitors to the capital see when their plane landed.
‘‘I’m really proud to support this project, which will be a jewel in the eastern suburbs’ crown.’’
Free was initially unsure about the project because of the council’s tight budget for the year, but has since come on board.
‘‘It’s Wellington’s most popular beach and I think extra toilets are needed. It will be a useful addition to Lyall Bay.’’