JFC commenced construction in early October 2024.
Over the last few months, good weather has assisted the contractor to stay on target with the first phase of the work programme.
This has included widening the entry to give space for the environmental controls and to provide separated machinery and truck access into the lawn area, while retaining safe pedestrian access into the reserve. During the demolition phase, old seats and tables were gifted to several local schools, 4000 bricks lifted and sold by Rotary for community fundraising, along with approximately 150 of the roses. Concrete, bricks, and metal was taken to crushing or recycling to divert from the waste stream.
At present, work is focused in the lawn area, with underground services being installed, terrace walls underway, land being reshaped for the planted native grassland area, gravel pathways formed, and a boardwalk and raised stage being built.
From late January onwards, more of the works will be taking place in the entrance, including installing services and footings for the two Exceloo toilet units, and the perimeter walkway to the Lions train station for a new retaining wall.
The rose garden at Aotea Lagoon was put in in the 1980s, but the time has come for change.
Plans include a widened entry from Papakōwhai Rd, with new toilet facilities providing easy accessibility. The old toilet block will be demolished once the new ones open.
From the entrance into the lawn and garden area, a new path network leads into and around the park providing year-round access for a variety of pedestrian uses. Low raised grass terraces break the edges into smaller gathering space around the park and allow for seating during events and for general sitting in the sun.
Events have a focus with a raised platform/stage for concerts and performances and general use year-round.
A planted native grassland area combined with a boardwalk behind the stage area will help to remedy existing drainage problems in this area. Additional soil will be added to the existing lawn to raise it higher and improve slope to assist surface drainage.
The existing rose garden will be removed as part of the project, with roses given to Porirua Rotary for fundraising and some transplanted to Whenua Tapu Cemetery. Other trees and shrubs will also be relocated to Whenua Tapu.
The grassland area behind the stage will have new native shrubs and plantings as we begin to revert Aotea Lagoon to a more natural feel and look.
The Guy Ngan sculpture in the garden will be moved to a more prominent spot.
Construction is programmed to commence in spring 2024 and continue over summer, with completion expected in the first half of 2025.
The southern carpark will remain in use for public, but with an area being fenced off, resulting in loss of some car parks. Accessible car parks will be relocated next to the recently formed car park exit.
Pedestrian access into the lagoon from the car park will mostly be via temporary accesses through the existing entry area - but note this may be unavailable at times due to construction activities in that zone.
The path around the perimeter of the lagoon will be open but with a reduced width for most of the time. There will need to be some closures when working on retaining walls next to the path, but these will be well notified ahead of time.
The whole of the southern lawn/rose garden area will be closed from around late September 2024 at the commencement of construction and through to expected opening in May 2025.
New fully accessible toilets are being installed within the new entrance area during the construction project. The existing toilet block outside the southern entrance will be demolished at the end of the project once the new ones are opened.
The other toilet block near the old duck pond will remain (it will be redeveloped at some time in the future).
The existing rose garden will be removed as part of the project. Roses have been pruned, bagged up and removed. The majority were donated to Porirua Rotary for fundraising, while some be transplanted to the RSA section of Whenua Tapu Cemetery.
The renewal project was included in Council's 2021 Long-term Plan. The construction in the 2024/25 financial year has an expected cost of $2.785 million. This is made up of $2.335m for the main park renewal and $450,000 for the two new Exceloo toilet units, including in-ground infrastructure and demolition of the old toilet block.
