For many Aucklanders summer is a chance to explore locally, rather than head out of town to the beach.
An official opening took place in December for the upgraded Western Park playground which includes three tunnel slides, one an impressive 24m. Children from Freemans Bay kindergarten, who had been watching the development closely while the playground was out of action were among the first to take advantage of the exciting, new play equipment.
The Grey Lynn Park playground (next to the children's paddling pool) was also upgraded and expanded with a new nature-inspired climbing structure and balancing trail. New picnic tables and a drinking fountain were welcome additions to the shady spot under mature trees. Tucked away in Westmere a neighbourhood playground at Tirotai Crescent has also been upgraded, much to the delight of local children.
Another initiative it’s great to see come to fruition this summer is ‘The Boroughs’. A joint project between Spark and Auckland Council which saw basketball courts delivered in four main centres across Auckland. The central court at Victoria Park, named by popular vote 'The Overpass', has been packed daily with ballers since opening. The court is provided with free wi-fi access which is definitely an additional drawcard for those using the courts.
The local board is particularly proud to have opened the Weona-Westmere Coast Walkway in time for summer exercise and adventures. When Westmere was subdivided in the 1920s the promotional material at the time showed a strip of public reserve along Motions Creek described as “thus ensuring equal access to the whole of the sand beaches to every section holder and preserving to the public the fine old Christmas trees, the golden kowhais and the other native flora which so lavishly adorns the waterfront.”
Over time, access was lost and the area became overgrown. The proposal to open up the public coastal reserve and re-establish the coastal forest goes back many decades but more recently led by two locals. With community support the Waitemata Local Board picked up the project in 2011. Shale Chambers as the board’s champion kept the project on track through the very heated public meetings, the resource consent appeals and extensive construction challenges.
If you have visited the new walkway I am confident that you will agree that it has been well worth the effort. The new 1.4km coastal path takes walkers through native bush and on a boardwalk with views of the Waitemata Harbour. At low tide the walk extends further around the headland and the chance to spot a variety of native birds. Many thanks to those wonderful hardworking volunteers who spent many hours replanting native bush in the area. (PIPPA COOM)
Anyone interested in supporting further planting and pest control please contact Stephen Knight-Lenihan at stephen.knight.lenihan@gmail.com
or M: 027 449 3646.
Contact Pippa Coom, Chair of Waitamata Local Board: pippa.coom@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz