Owhiro Bay Upgrade Project Bags a Hat-trick

Wellington City Council's Owhiro Bay entrance upgrade has won its third award - a Merit award in the Special Purpose category at the Property Council New Zealand Awards.

Officially opened in June 2008, the project has already won two awards - the New Zealand Recreation Association Outstanding Park award and the Wellington Civic Trust Best Environmental Project award.
The area was once used as a quarry and the Council began restoring it as a reserve in 2000, aiming to enhance and protect the natural beauty of the South Coast. Designed to be consistent with the rugged natural environment, the new Te Kopahou Reserve Interpretation shelter was constructed using materials from old quarry equipment, which will be hardy enough to withstand extreme coastal conditions. The area is fully landscaped with rocks, exposed aggregates, timber and native coastal plants.

The Council's Environment Portfolio Leader, Councillor Celia Wade-Brown, says the award is a fantastic achievement and winning three awards shows how highly regarded the upgrade is. "We did a lot of community consultation and put a lot of effort into ensuring we got the ecological, cultural and social elements of the project right. The awards recognise this hard work."

Council architects were responsible for the architectural and landscape design and Mainzeal Construction carried out the building's construction. Consultants Duffill Watts and Spencer Holmes were also involved in the project.

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Owhiro Bay Entrance Upgrade