Historic rock wall paves the way for the future

Auckland City is celebrating the relocation and restoration of the historic rock wall along the Neilson Street boundary of Waikaraka Park, making way for future road widening.

The work began on the $850,000 project in July this year and included moving the 450m long wall approximately 3m into the park, reconstructing and strengthening the wall and landscaping to preserve the area’s heritage.

The work reflects a need to safeguard the city’s heritage while looking to the future: the mature Pohutakawa tree, on the corner of Neilson Street and Captain Springs Road, has remained in place and been pruned to accommodate necessary height clearance for the future carriageway and footpath all other trees along Neilson Street have been replaced with suitable specimens behind the relocated rock wall.

Future road widening has been planned, aiming to improve the link between the South-eastern Highway and State Highway 20. It is expected that construction will commence in two to three years.

“While the council pursues plans to ease traffic flow issues in the city, it is important that these initiatives take good account of our heritage and environment,” says Councillor Greg McKeown, Transport Committee chairperson. “Retaining the rock wall and the new developments within the park have been worthwhile projects for the area.”

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