Kihikihi village plan edges closer
A new skate park and a revitalised Kihikihi Domain look to be the first two cabs off the rank in a plan to enhance Kihikihi in the future.
Along with enhancing the village, retaining the town’s character and identifying other key projects and initiatives for the growing area were key features of the Kihikihi Urban Development Plan presented at Waipā District Council’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee today.
After hearing from Strategic Projects Driver, Justine Kennedy, Councillors were quick to approve the plan to go forward for adoption at the next full Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday 26 October.
Council’s Manager – Strategy, Kirsty Downey said the plan had a little bit for everyone.
“The Urban Development Plan for Kihikihi focuses on projects that will improve the town’s vibrancy, focusing on the town centre, heritage spaces and recreational areas. How residents move around the town and ensuring they have walking and cycling connections that are suitably located and sized for all is also a key feature along with road safety initiatives around the school.”
The desire for a skate park for the village’s young people was a high priority from the community during the June-August consultation period, along with safety and slower speeds around Kihikihi School, located on Whitmore Street.
“We’re pleased to be already in the early planning stages of the skate park and the Kihikihi Domain with our community user groups, with funding allocated through the last Long Term Plan process,” Kennedy added.
The new plan includes a plan for implementing the projects in short and long-term timeframes. The skate park feasibiliy study and revitalised Kihikihi Domain received funding through the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan to be undertaken in the next three to five years.
Local councillors Hazel Barnes and Marcus Gower noted they had received great feedback from the community on the new plan.
“Kihikihi residents and ratepayers are excited and thrilled that we’ve finally got here and prioritised some key projects. The safety around our school has been waiting for about seven years, so I am very pleased to see that you’ve listened to the community,” said Barnes.
Developing Turata reserve to enable community use and the sharing of Kihikihi’s history was also a key priority for the community.
The committee also approved a recommendation to remove a redundant water tower structure which is currently located on Turata Reserve. Removing the structure will enable the community to enjoy 360o views across the town to the surrounding maunga and will provide room for picnicking and other recreational activities to occur.
Barnes said she had spoken with iwi and was pleased to have their support to remove the structure.
“I’ve met with the Kihikhi residents and ratepayers group and iwi and they definitely want it gone so we can proceed to get the Turata Reserve tidied up and a much more acceptable entranceway into our village.”
The now-defunct water tower was built between 1948 and 1951 and provided the first water supply to the village, however is not deemed a historic structure by Heritage New Zealand.
Council’s water services team would fund the removal of the structure, estimated at a cost of approximately $60,000. The removal will be planned and undertaken with an archaeologist and will require a Heritage New Zealand authority where any soil disturbance will occur.
In its place, picnic tables and signage depicting the history of the area are proposed to be erected, with approved landscaping and planning in collaboration with iwi.
The Kihikihi Urban Development Plan will now go to the full Council meeting on 26 October for adoption. The full plan is available to view under the Strategic Planning and Policy committee agenda at www.waipadc.govt.nz/livestream.
