A sod-turning ceremony has kicked off the rebuild of community facilities at the Waterview Reserve as part of the NZ Transport Agency’s Waterview Connection project in Auckland.
The reserve will undergo a spectacular makeover with a number of enhancements being made as part of the transport infrastructure project.
The ceremony marked the beginning of the rebuild which was attended by Waterview Primary School Principal Brett Skeen, year six pupil Tess Watson, Eden-Albert Local Board member Margi Watson and representatives from the project’s Well-Connected Alliance.
Tess, who was involved in the Waterview School focus group for the playground, explained her excitement at the prospect of playing at the new and improved reserve.
“I’m really looking forward to playing at the playground as it will have water play features,” she says.
Brett Skeen echoed the remarks by Tess, saying that the reserve will be a centre of community activity when it opens.
“All of our school kids are excited about being able to enjoy all the facilities in their own backyard. It’s a great asset for the entire community that we can celebrate, enjoy and be proud of,” he says.
The reserve provides enhanced recreational facilities including a BMX pump track, playground, skate park and a basketball and volleyball court.
The innovative design features at the reserve cater for a wide range of ages, abilities and interests and will also contain a number of landscaping enhancements such as an improved Oakley Creek Heritage area, landscape planting and pedestrian and cycle access.
The Well Connected Alliance is constructing the rebuild on behalf of the Transport Agency. The Albert-Eden Local Board is also providing financial support for the work.
The Waterview Connection project includes construction of twin tunnels and an interchange to link the Southwestern and Northwestern Motorways. It will complete Auckland’s Western Ring Route, a 47-kilometre-long motorway between Albany on the North Shore and Manukau in the south. It is planned to open to traffic in early 2017.
The Well-Connected Alliance includes the Transport Agency, Fletcher Construction, McConnell Dowell, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Beca Infrastructure, Tonkin & Taylor and Japanese construction company Obayashi Corporation. Sub-alliance partners are Auckland-based Wilson Tunnelling and Spanish tunnel controls specialists SICE.
Photo shows from left, Brett Skeen (Waterview Primary School principal) Margi Watson (Albert-Eden Local Board), turning the first sod, Tess Watson from Waterview Primary, Rachael Linehan and Paul Rasmussen from the Well-Connected Alliance.
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http://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/waterviewconnection(external link)
For more information please contact:
Jan McCarthy
Media Manager - Christchurch
T: 03 964 2885
M: 021 427 442
E: jan.mccarthy@nzta.govt.nz
