Work is under way on an outdoor education classroom on the doorstep of what will become one of Tauranga's premier wetlands at Bethlehem.
The landscaped amphitheatre near the intersection of Carmichael Rd and Westmorland Rise will provide full-day discovery experiences for Year 5 to Year 8 students.
Infrastructure maintenance company City Care
is contributing $80,000 worth of work and materials to build the amphitheatre on a corner of the Gordon Carmichael Reserve wetlands.
It is part of the company's contribution to the City Partnership Programme, with construction due to finish by the end of February.
The project coincides with the launch of a Learning Through Discovery programme funded by the Ministry of Education and managed by the council and Marine Watch Trust.
City partnership manager Frank Begley said the amphitheatre will be used for the wetland strand of the programme.
The four other strands will take pupils to a forest, an estuary, the sea shore and a rocky reef.
A walkway leading from the amphitheatre will provide easy access to the wetlands which are in the process of being transformed into a premier wetland area.
Mr Begley said development of the 60ha reserve began in 2002, with the formation of stormwater ponds at the northern and southern end of the reserve.
More than 2km of walkways now wind through the wetlands which also provide walking and cycling links between Bethlehem, Brookfield and Bellevue. Toilets and parking have recently been installed, with a children's playground, more walkways and interpretative signs planned to happen next.
Council parks manager Steve Webb said the outdoor classroom will also be a nice place for visitors to relax, have a picnic and enjoy a pristine wetland environment in the middle of the city.
The large area of open space will be maintained immediately east of the hub beside the intersection of Carmichael Rd and Westmorland Rise.
City Care's Tauranga branch manager Kees Swanink said it made sense for the company to be involved in projects that added value to the city.
