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Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor update
April 2023
Fresh imagery and plans break cover on OARC projects
The next swathe of regeneration projects for the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor are taking shape.
Preliminary designs and information for the City to Sea Pathway, proposed developments at Kerrs Reach, and an estuarine wetland at Bexley has been published today.
Changes to Kerrs Reach
As a well-used area, Kerrs Reach is a natural gathering point and we want to ensure it’s fit-for-purpose and provides safe access to the water, for all users.
We’re proposing a range of changes to this area to reduce overcrowding while continuing to attract a wider range of users both on the water and on the land.
City to Sea Pathway
The 11-kilometre-long, shared-use, all-weather route will largely follow the course of the Ōtākaro Avon River from Barbadoes Street in the central city to Pages Road in New Brighton.
The pathway will generally be four metres wide and designed to meet best practice safety and accessibility standards. It may feature short sections of boardwalk to allow for drainage and contours in the land.
Bexley estaurine wetland
This new wetland is included in the OARC Regeneration Plan as an area of ecological restoration.
New features we’re planning in this area include a riverside landing (as a future stage), shared path access, a protected bird roost/nesting site on the southern spit, and a small car park.
Community board gives Avon Park redevelopment the go-ahead
Plans to redevelop Avon Park have been given the green light by the Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board.
At the 13 April meeting, the board approved plans to revamp the existing facilities on the upper terrace of Avon Park and transform the lower terrace into a naturalised wetland.
Head of Parks, Andrew Rutledge, says the park and surrounding pockets of regeneration area will incorporate the City to Sea Pathway, improve local ecology and upgrade the current recreational facilities.
Tree-mendous winter planting programme about to begin
Winter is planting season and we have lots of opportunities coming up for you to get involved in the ecological restoration of the OARC regeneration area.
- 29 April: Conservation Volunteers NZ will hold a special event for Earth Day at the Dallington Landing.
- 14 May: Eco-Action Nursery Trust will hold the first of four planting events at Chimera Crescent. See https://www.eco-action.co.nz/how-can-i-help for more dates.
- 21 May: Avon-Ōtākaro Forest Park are planning four public planting events at their Brooker Reserve site this winter, with the first on Sunday 21 May. This community-led project has been steadily growing since 2016.
Click the button below for more dates and planting projects you can get involved over the 2023 planting season.
City Nature Challenge 2023
If you love taking photos of plants and animals while you're exploring our parks, then this is for you!
The City Nature Challenge 28 April-1 May is an international event. Find plants, animals and fungi, take a picture and share via the free app, INaturalist.
So far six Aotearoa cities are registered to take part this year.
INaturalist ramble - Friday 28 April 10-11am
Join our red zone rangers on a ramble along Retreat Road, snapping observations as we go. If you are new to the app this is a great chance to learn alongside others.
You are receiving this bi-monthly newsletter as you've previously expressed interest in activities and developments within the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor. Feel free to forward to your networks and groups.
