New park on track
25 September 2015Waipuke Park is on track to be opened to the public before Christmas.
The site, just up river from the Mighty River Domain, is owned by Waipa District Council. The 40-hectare land parcel includes 30 hectares on an upper terrace and 10 hectares on a lower terrace including a beach on the shores of Lake Karapiro.
As part of 10-Year Plan deliberations, councillors allocated $417,000 to spend in the first year of the park's development. The decision followed overwhelmingly positive public feedback about the proposal to set aside the land for public use. It had previously been grazed.
Work on the site has been underway for the last few months and has included earthworks to widen and re-contour the accessway to the park, construction of a walkway, fencing, upgrading culverts and installing traffic signs.
A landscape architect is now creating a detailed concept plan for the two hectare portion of the lower terrace to be opened to the public later this year. The architect's brief includes proposals put forward by the public, including a preference that the site not be over-developed but instead focus on passive recreation like swimming and picnicking.
Dogs will not be allowed at the park at this stage, but are likely to be catered for in further stages of development.
Representatives from local iwi Ngati Koroki Kahukura recently visited the site to consider its history. An archaeologist's report identified pits on the site plus evidence of modified soils. It is likely signage will be installed at the park to share pre-European stories associated with the area.
All media enquiries, contact Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of council) 027 5077 599