Tarawera Landing redevelopment to begin early 2022
Signage will be in place at the top of the entrance road (Tarawera Road) from 10 January 2022 to give boaties a heads up that the boat ramp and jetty will be closed and they should proceed around Spencer Road to the other ramps for launching.
Further information:
What are the construction dates?
All going well the redevelopment construction should take about four months (10 January to mid-May). All works are dependent on weather and any Government restrictions for COVID-19.
Why is the work beginning so early in the year?
Council acknowledges that the work will be disruptive during a busy holiday period however, due to resource consent conditions work in or around the lake is only permitted between 1 January and 1 May each year. This is due to dab chick breeding and then trout spawning seasons. To ensure the redevelopment is completed within that time, contractors must begin as early as possible.
What facilities will remain open?
During the construction period, the boat ramp and jetty will be closed. People will still be able to access to the café, beach and public toilets, and there will be limited parking available at all times. From 8 February 2022 access to the eastern end of the parking area will be restricted for 4-5 weeks but parking will still be available at the western end of the reserve
Why is Council redeveloping the reserve?
Waitōharuru/Tarawera Landing is a very popular reserve for locals and visitors. It is used for a number of recreation and leisure activities including swimming, boating, shore based fishing, walking and picnicking. The reserve is also home to a number of commercial and tourism operations including The Landing Café, Rotorua Duck Tours, and Totally Tarawera, fishing charters and lake cruises and an event venue.
The area is also culturally and historically significant to mana whenua Tūhourangi and to the Rotorua district. Adjacent to the recreational reserve is Punaromia which features one of the most accessible wāhi tapu rock art sites in New Zealand. The site features drawings of ancestral Māori waka on a cliff face directly facing Mount Tarawera. The art connects Tūhourangi with their tupuna (ancestors) and deepens the relationship between the people and the whenua (land).
These different activities occurring in a small area has resulted in a number of issues that need to be addressed. The issues include parking, safety, access, and awareness of the significance of the area to mana whenua and the Rotorua district.
The plan for redevelopment aims to address those issues while maintaining the natural character of the area and enhancing the environment. The redevelopment will also help to achieve the future aspirations of Tūhourangi and the Tarawera community.
What are the known issues?
- Damaged or aging infrastructure.
- The limited parking layout.
- Safety of pedestrians in parking areas and swimmers near boats as they enter and exit the water
- A lack of general awareness, acknowledgement or understanding of the cultural and historical significance of the reserve.
- Access and protection of the wāhi tapu rock site (adjacent to the reserve) needs to be maintained and enhanced.
What work is taking place?
The improvements will use natural materials and simple spaces that work with the landscape to enhance the functionality and enjoyment of the reserve. The key aspects of the redevelopment are:
- Realignment of the jetty and boat ramp, and addition of a new pontoon to create a separation of space for boat movements in and out of the lake.
- Relocation and angling the jetty to separate swimmers from the boat ramp area.
- Optimise parking areas and define boat trailer and coach parking.
- A pedestrian-friendly zone to separate boat and coach parking, and provide better connectivity between the café and lake edge.
- Enhanced lake edge with a new boardwalk.
- Information and signage to conserve and promote the cultural and heritage value of the reserve.
- Improve function and visual appearance of the reserve by adding picnic and lawn areas, landscaping and park furniture.
How is this being funded?
A grant of $293,000 was awarded to Council by the Government’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund in 2019.
The total investment in Waitōharuru, including the upgrades to the public toilets in 2020, will be $870,000. That amount is made up of Council investment set out in the Long-term Plan and $293,000 from the Government’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund.
Further funding will be sought to carry out future work to enhance and protect the heritage and cultural sites in the adjacent Punaromia area.
Who else is involved?
Council has been working in partnership with Tūhourangi Tribal Authority and Tarawera community partners since 2018 on a plan to redevelop the reserve.
Council has also been working with community partners such as Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Department of Conservation, Fish & Game, and commercial operators such as Totally Tarawera, The Landing Café and Rotorua Duck Tours.
What parking will be available once the redevelopment is complete?
There are currently 26 formed carparks and approximately 10 unformed boat parks. The following will be created:
- 26 x formed carparks (including 2 accessible parks)
- 14 x formed boat trailer parks
- 2 x formed P5 tie-down parks for boat trailers
- 1 x formed bus park
Will any trees be removed during the redevelopment?
No native emergent or upper canopy trees are being removed. Tree removal relates to only pioneering and sub-canopy species that are abundant in the area and have diameter of no more than 150mm. An arborist and ecologist has determined that the loss of vegetation will be minimal and will be offset by the proposed tree planting shown in the concept drawings.