Pram and wheelchair users rejoice – the Mauao Base Track will open for the busy holiday season.
Tauranga City Council staff and contractors have been working tirelessly since a decision was made last month to repair a section of track damaged by a major slip in 2017.
The new section is expected to open to the public from Friday, after repairs proceeded on-time and under-budget.
Mayor Tenby Powell says the feat is a testament to the commitment, determination and hard work of everyone involved.
'Friday's opening shows that people can achieve great things in a very short time when they strive towards a common goal.
'It means that our city's greatest taonga is accessible for all.”
The mayor says the accomplishment wouldn't have happened without the guidance and goodwill of Mauao's iwi owners.
The Mauao Trust has guided council staff in their engagement with experts to ensure the maunga is safe and accessible for wheelchairs and prams. The Trust represents the three iwi of Tauranga Moana, who collectively own Mauao.
The repairs include excavations, track realignment, installing a hand rail, improving drainage, and stabilising the area with geotech cloth and soil nails.
After the holidays, further work will be undertaken to finalise the repairs.
It's expected the new section of track will be closed during February for this to occur. People will be able to complete the circuit using stairs during this time.
The track section will be formally opened once this work has been completed.
The full cost of the repairs is yet to be determined, but is expected to be a fraction of the $4.65 million that was approved by the last Council for a plan to bypass the slip area with a new 350m section of track and boardwalks along the beach.
4 comments
Please leave temporary stairs
Posted on 19-12-2019 08:08 | By Pete Morris
Great to see this happen after a lengthy unexplained delay. Well done. I hope the temporary stairs will remain after February as they provide base track walkers with an alternative elevated view of the harbour and Matakana Island. The elevated area would be a good spot for a picnic table too provided users take their wrappings and food scraps off Mauao afterwards. Pete Morris ~ Tauranga resident.
The truth is Cr Hollis is due the most thanks!
Posted on 19-12-2019 10:45 | By Murray.Guy
The mayor says the accomplishment wouldn’t have happened without the guidance and goodwill of Mauao’s iwi owners. Maybe, BUT what we do know as FACT is that Cr Andrew Hollis and others in the community are due the most credit, as this has come about only after their personal submissions to the Mayor and Councillors in the Council Chambers, after which elected members put a stop to staff direction and that championed by Cr Steve Morris, the $6 million man. Cr Hollis and team's efforts informed the community, including candidates such as Mayor Tenby who picked up the community support and ran with it! Great call. Unfortunately it seems they have still allowed ratepayers to be fleeced with costs significantly higher than the $60 -$100k quoted by independent experts.
Well done
Posted on 19-12-2019 12:10 | By earlybird
It's just a shame it took so long, and yes, since the steps are already there why not just leave them in place.
NO
Posted on 20-12-2019 15:04 | By old trucker
You have not put my thoughts forward,
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