Don gave an update on the Ohope Trail. He advised that the Whakatane District Council have been very supportive and paid for the Design Phase and coordinated and put out the tenders. There was a lot of original interest and four tenders were put in with a range of prices. This was followed by the application process to try and raise over $300,000 from a number of different providers.
Some of the funding applications were turned down because our Club would not ultimately own the asset, which will be on Council land. The contracts were amended so that the Club was the contract principal and not the Council, which helps the audit trail for payment of expenditure. Our Club has contributed $23,848 so far with more to come from the Spud Night fundraising.
The funding applications were ultimately successful in raising the amount required to get the project underway. Scope Reduction was required because the funds raised did not match the cost of the Trail. Construction will now only concentrate on those areas that were impassable, with other areas being left as grass with marker posts. Construction started last week and is ongoing. Don is not particularly happy with the way the construction is going and needs to make sure that it is consistent with the drawings and the design.
There will be six main entry points to get onto the Trail and signage will be funded by Walking Access New Zealand. There will also be marker posts with information about the Trail. Hugh Lovelock’s seat will be put in place and we need to ask other service providers to fund other resting places along the Trail. There will be 63 metres of boardwalk in areas close to the harbour. This will have a finished width of 1.6 meters which will be wide enough for pushchairs and cyclists.
The funding applications were ultimately successful in raising the amount required to get the project underway. Scope Reduction was required because the funds raised did not match the cost of the Trail. Construction will now only concentrate on those areas that were impassable, with other areas being left as grass with marker posts. Construction started last week and is ongoing. Don is not particularly happy with the way the construction is going and needs to make sure that it is consistent with the drawings and the design. There will be six main entry points to get onto the Trail and signage will be funded by Walking Access New Zealand. There will also be marker posts with information about the Trail. Hugh Lovelock’s seat will be put in place and we need to ask other service providers to fund other resting places along the Trail. There will be 63 metres of boardwalk in areas close to the harbour. This will have a finished width of 1.6 meters which will be wide enough for pushchairs and cyclists.
The entranceway to Ōhope Scenic Reserve
The opening of the Trail will take place at 11.00 am on Sunday 17 December at the Waterways end. Deputy Mayor Judy Turner will assist President Yvonne to open it. There will be blessings by the two main iwi groups who have an interest in the Trail. BOPRC will put on a sausage sizzle and the media will be present. All Club members are welcome to attend. This will not mean that the Trail is complete but people will be able to use it.
The Club is planning to hold a BBQ (on site) for the contractors (who are all from Hamilton) on Thursday 14 December at 5.30 pm at the Otao Domain. This will be a potluck BBQ with burgers, sausages and a few salads.
Don hopes that our Club and other care groups in the area will get involved in long-term planting and weed eradication programmes along the Trail.
Don noted that there has been opposition to the Trail by residents whose property boundaries were adjacent to the reserve and whose land use had encroached onto the reserve. The Trail has been designed to stay as far away as possible from residences.
The opening of the Trail will take place at 11.00 am on Sunday 17 December at the Waterways end. Deputy Mayor Judy Turner will assist President Yvonne to open it. There will be blessings by the two main iwi groups who have an interest in the Trail. BOPRC will put on a sausage sizzle and the media will be present. All Club members are welcome to attend. This will not mean that the Trail is complete but people will be able to use it.
The Club is planning to hold a BBQ (on site) for the contractors (who are all from Hamilton) on Thursday 14 December at 5.30 pm at the Otao Domain. This will be a potluck BBQ with burgers, sausages and a few salads.
Don hopes that our Club and other care groups in the area will get involved in long-term planting and weed eradication programmes along the Trail.
Don noted that there has been opposition to the Trail by residents whose property boundaries were adjacent to the reserve and whose land use had encroached onto the reserve. The Trail has been designed to stay as far away as possible from residences.