Multi-use building for Totara Reserve

Plan have been finalised for a multi-purpose building at the Totara Reserve Regional Park in the Pohangina Valley and construction work is due to begin shortly.

The building - on the Camp Rangi Woods side of the park - will serve as an office-information centre and incorporate toilet and shower units. It will replace the small ablution block currently on site and be manned at peak hours during the summer holiday season.

The project is part of an extensive work programme at the park that incorporates the development of a new campground downstream from the existing flood-prone area on the banks of the Pohangina River.

Horizons Regional Council’s Biodiversity and Water Quality Manager, Alistair Beveridge, said the campground development also included new power lines, the establishment of caravan hot points, water and sewage system connections, drainage improvements and landscaping.

He said flood protection of the area had recently been completed with about 600 metres of newly-formed stopbank sweeping around the proposed camping site.

“A series of river works, including the removal of instream debris that is causing the channel to erode its banks, is also largely completed,” said Mr Beveridge.

Tied tree work to reduce bank erosion and beach ripping to allow gravel movement and the formation of a more manageable channel was also near-complete.

Mr Beveridge said damage from winter floods in the existing camping ground had been repaired, with silt, gravel and other debris cleared away. The ageing adventure playground had also been removed, with most of the equipment having reached its use-by date.

Manawatu District Council Parks and Reserves Manager, Albert James, said six planting beds containing native trees and shrubs had been established on the new camping area.

“When established, the trees and shrubs will break up the open paddock look and divide the ground into separate sections to allow some privacy for the campers,” he said.