New waterfront playground for Onehunga

New waterfront playground for Onehunga

A $28 million funding agreement signed today by Auckland City Council and the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will help enable the transformation of the tidal Onehunga foreshore into beach and parkland for the community to enjoy.

The redevelopment will include reclamation which will be transformed into parkland and beaches where people can swim, walkways and cycleways, a new carpark, toilets and BBQs, and a sheltered boat ramp where people can launch small boats into a protected harbour. The area will be landscaped and planted with coastal plants.

People will be able to access the area from the Onehunga Lagoon Reserve side via a low pedestrian and cycle bridge over State Highway 20.

Auckland City’s Mayor Hon. John Banks says: “Restoration of the Onehunga foreshore is a significant project that will enable people from throughout Auckland to once again access the Onehunga foreshore on the Manukau Harbour, one of the jewels in Auckland's crown.”

The NZ Transport Agency’s Regional Director, Wayne McDonald, says the agency has enjoyed a very successful working relationship with the council and local community to help achieve a great outcome, and is proud to play its part in a major enhancement of the foreshore and vicinity.

Local MP for Maungakiekie, Sam Lotu-Iiga says: "There has been a great deal of co-operation between the council and the community to get to this stage. The local community is very excited that this next step towards the redevelopment of their foreshore has been taken."

Community representative and member of The Onehunga Enhancement Society (TOES) Jim Jackson says: “This agreement marks a major milestone in the restoration and redevelopment of the Onehunga foreshore and the beginning of a shift towards an outcome that will serve the local and wider community.”

Auckland City Council is contributing $10 million and the NZTA are contributing $18 million to the $28 million total foreshore redevelopment project.

The council will issue a request for tender in September to shortlisted companies to plan and complete the development.

The council will continue to work with TOES, NZTA and the Maungakiekie Community Board to refine the designs. The construction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2014.

ENDS