Want to know what’s happening in your local parks and community spaces this summer?
From Lynfield Cove to Taylors Bay Road Reserve, parts of Puketāpapa’s network of parks on the northern Manukau coastline are ready to be rediscovered.
Out of 15 walkways and reserves closed from storm damage in February 2023, seven are now deemed safe and open to the public.
Waikōwhai Reserve is expected to reopen in the first half of 2024.
“We are extremely thrilled that some of the spectacular jewels in our rohe are able to open up and be enjoyed again,” says Puketāpapa Local Board chair Ella Kumar.
“These significant ecological areas are rare assets in our urban environment and home to precious wildlife, regenerating forests and some of the best harbour views.”
In the past nine months since severe storm events ravaged parts of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland Council staff and specialist consultants have undertaken significant work to assess damage to reserves and open spaces.
A total of 11 geotechnical assessments were conducted across Puketāpapa’s track network with an aim to open walkways as soon as practicable.
Consultants have walked and inspected numerous slips and their impacts on local tracks and walkway structures, some of which continue to move. The review prioritises fixes for areas that require little work and funds reopen, through to structures that need detailed design work and construction to remediate. Significant projects will be staged over several years as funding becomes available.
The following walkways and facilities are now ready for Aucklanders to revisit:
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Aldersgate Reserve (top turf grass area of the reserve is open)
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Grannys Bay Reserve – track from Grannys Bay to Hillsborough Reserve remains closed
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Kingswood Reserve – partly open with access to the fishing area on the rocks
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Lynfield Cove Reserve walkway – all tracks open in both Lynfield Cove/Wairaki Stream Reserves and Himalaya Reserve
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Sylvania Cres Esplanade to Wattle Bay – one track entry from Sylvania Crescent down to the Wattle Bay beachfront is open
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Taylors Bay Rd Reserve
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Wattle Bay from Cape Horn Road – open down to the beachfront only.
Still closed: track to the lookout and the track between the Wattle Bay beaches.
Reserves that remain closed are:
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Bamfield Reserve – including the Waikōwhai Boardwalk to Taumanu Reserve
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Captains Bush Reserve
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Frederick Street Esplanade Reserve
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Halsley Esplanade Reserve
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Hillsborough Reserve
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Lower section of Manukau Domain– walkway loop closed, turf grass area at the top section of the Domain is open
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Waikōwhai Reserve.
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