The Kopua bridge construction platform is now about halfway across. HEB Structures are making good progress on building the construction platform for the replacement footbridge.
The $2.6 million bridge is being built by HEB Structures for the Waikato District Council. The bridge is being built from the Kopua side towards the town side. The new bridge is being built to the north of the present bridge and the construction platform.
This summer I was one of the privileged ones who caught an historic glimpse from Te Kopua across to Joyce Petchell Park of the little old church between the pohutukawas. This charming historical vista has now been built out by the museum built literally on the harbour edge.
Maybe the museum will promote our natural heritage and the boardwalk can be continued in front of the new building, under the bridge and connecting with the Kaitoke Bay walk way.
Noxious weeds are overcrowding the native plantings along this walkway which extends to Flax Cove, up and over the hill past the Te Aro Aro wetlands up the Lily Street reserve and down to the wharf.
Rather than taking up Raglan with parking areas and especially boat trailers and tow vehicles and spending money creating more parking, public money could be better spent upgrading all walkways in Raglan, attracting people who want to enjoy the natural history.
In regard to boat parking, an alternative would be for WDC to continue Long Street (rather than trying to sell public land) and use a pay and display parking system at the existing carpark on Park Drive side of the Te Aro Aro wetlands/sports grounds.
Further, while on the subject of noxious weeds continuing the theme of promoting our Natural Heritage and continuing the fabulous work of Harbour care it would make sense to restore the Te Aro Aro wetlands was restored with the gorse, pines,privet, , tobacco weed replaced with natives, improving the water quality of the harbour, filtering subdivision runoff and creating a venue for an income generating schools enviro education centre.
Some good ideas there. Council claim they spent $230,000 developing the Long St paper road and don’t want to sell it for less. It was supposed to pay for the museum and rugby ground developments. With mortgage sections selling for $60,000, it’s likely to remain public land for a long time. It doesn’t need to be a car park though. Part of their spending was $200,000+ for a car park, just along the road at the rugby ground, that’s nearly always empty. A cycleway from there to the wharf would provide ample parking within 5 min of the wharf.
At last night’s Coastal Reserves Advisory Committee council said they have a planting plan for AroAro.
Weedbusters tried to get volunteers to clear the Kaitoke walkway weeds. It looks as though it can only be done if council pays for it. Maybe they’d have money for these basic services if they didn’t spend $3m+ on an unnecessary footbridge, or $12,000 for a secondhand toilet (not with asbestos cement), rather than $227,600 for a musical one, or $10,000 on chopping down Te Kopua trees, etc, etc!
If you give specific areas where the weeds are a problem on the walkways the WDC will clear them. Either let Steve know in the Council office or let me know in my community board role and I’ll follow it up.
Good sugestions to consider about the John St properties. I think the area for paid parking is at the wharf. It could be free for up to one hour, and then pay and display giving Waikato District residents a free card with their rates each year. Keep the Park Drive parking free as a way of attracting people away from the wharf. As John suggests put in a walkway from the car park to the wharf.
The Community Board has proposed to Council that areas outside the Raglan CBD are developed for parking.
The problem is that Kaitoke Walkway is about as specific as can be. There are hundreds of weeds along it. I counted to 50 before losing count and that was just between East St and Point St as viewed from the walkway. Maybe tonight’s discussion can extend to how to deal with noxious weeds eg encourage participation with Weedbusters?