Tauranga City Council are proposing to spend $4.5 million dollars on safe access to Tauranga's scenic Omanawa Falls, which are currently closed due to unsafe access.
The contribution is being considered as part of the Council's Long Term Plan.
A spokesperson for Tourism Bay of Plenty says they're supporting Ngāti Hangarau, Tauranga City Council and the Omanawa residents to develop a plan for safe and culturally appropriate access to the falls.
'Omanawa Falls is a beautiful taonga that is sacred to Ngāti Hangarau. The falls present a significant opportunity for the tourism development of the region, but it must be done in the right way.
The falls are closed to the public, with signage to deter visitors. However, a man died there in January.
The spokesperson for Tourism Bay of Plenty says the clear message from Ngāti Hangarau, Tauranga City Council and Tourism Bay of Plenty is for people not to visit the falls because of significant and well-known safety issues.
Omanawa Falls Kaitiaki are on-site to support this message, and yet some people are ignoring this advice.
'My sincere hope is that through appropriately planned and safe access, locals and manuhiri can visit the falls to appreciate its cultural significance and beauty, and learn more about the sacred stories of Te Moananui ā Toi and the Coastal Bay of Plenty.”
According to the city council agenda, the project is being delivered in two stages to achieve safe access by summer 2021/22.
All components except the lookout location in the Ngahere walk are scheduled to be complete by mid-November 2021.
The lookout will be completed by October 2022.
Council say in 2019 the project was budgeted at costing $3.857 million, however, there is a significant degree of uncertainty regarding this total until contractors are engaged.
'In the meantime, it is recognised that construction cost inflation needs to be applied to this original budget. As such, it is recommended that the project budget be updated to a total of $4.5 million to better reflect 2021 likelihood.”
Staff are currently working to provide cost certainty for the project.
The draft Long Term Plan will be open for public consultation before it is finalised in July.
4 comments
Really?
Posted on 15-03-2021 07:57 | By Yadick
Tourism BOP are stating because of the significant dangers and safety issues people should not visit Omanawa Falls . . . I have 4 words for Tourism BOP to consider: White Island - Active Volcano . . .
How about
Posted on 15-03-2021 11:31 | By Merlin
How about spending the money on some of the shocking rural roads?
I am so sick and tired of.....
Posted on 15-03-2021 12:47 | By Bruja
Our beautiful 'places' being treated as if they are only 'special' and 'sacred' etc to Maori. Beaches, rivers, lakes etc etc are 'special and sacred' and treasured by ALL New Zealanders. Over it!
Tom Ranger
Posted on 15-03-2021 14:06 | By Tom Ranger
@Bruja. It's nice that we all agree they are special places. I don't think it's appropriate to say tho, that I have just as much of a connection to Omanawa falls as Ngāti Hangarau. That's just not right imo. I struggle to remember the last time I was there. But I do appreciate your comment. People are growing tired of having maori pushed down their throats literally, and also being forced to accept that maori have (some) different rights as indigenous peoples and also have avenues for historical compensation and/or re-establishment of an area due to the damage caused by the colonization effort of the crown.
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