Artist impression of the upgraded park including the water tank. Photo / Supplied
Artist impression of the upgraded park including the water tank. Photo / Supplied
Hastings District Council has plans to transform part of a small park in a residential area of Whakatu into a water treatment plant to supply better drinking water to residents.
A nearby resident says she is unsure about the proposed changes - which include a large water tank being built- but has welcomed associated plans to upgrade the playground and to add a barbecue area.
The residential park on Ngaruroro Ave will be a focus of Hastings District Council's next meeting on Thursday.
The quiet park already has a small water treatment building near the road, which takes up about 2 per cent of the reserve. The rest of the park includes a small playground, a full-size but rundown basketball court and green space.
The council has plans to expand its water treatment plant at the park by building a large water tank, at the rear of the reserve, and adding further treatment facilities.
However, most of the park will remain open to the community, and the plans include a major upgrade to the existing playground plus a new barbecue area.
Artist impression of the upgraded park. Photo / Supplied
"To meet council's responsibilities to provide safe, compliant drinking water ... there is a requirement to upgrade the existing drinking water infrastructure for Whakatu," council papers read.
The proposed water treatment facilities including the water tank would take up about 15 per cent of the park and a mural is proposed to be painted on the side of the water tank.
The rest of Ngaruroro Avenue Reserve would remain open to the community.
Hastings District Council will meet on Thursday and vote on whether to begin the process of rezoning a portion of the park so the new water treatment facilities can go ahead.
"The proposed upgrade for Whakatu includes a new 300m3 water reservoir and new containerised water treatment plant that is near identical in size and footprint to what has recently been constructed at the Clive, Tucker Lane site," council papers read.
Ngaruroro Avenue Reserve will be discussed at council. Photo / Paul Taylor
Ngaruroro Ave resident Sonia Kirikiri said while she was not sure about a water tank being built at the park, she welcomed the proposed upgrades to the playground and a new barbecue area.
"I'd love to see that. You see it in Napier and we would love to see that here."
She said the park and basketball court were really well used by the community and local workers.
Kirikiri said she preferred to drink bottled water or a neighbour's bore water as she did not like the chlorine in the tap water.
Under the initial design plans, the basketball court would be reduced to a half-court at the park but seating and a barbecue area will be added.
