Cherry Grove, near Taumarunui, to get upgrade by regional council

Erin Bocker takes water samples at Mosquito Point. Photo/ file

Taumarunui's Cherry Grove finished way ahead in this year's Horizons Regional Council spruce-up-your-swim-spot competition.

The Whanganui River bathing place was 228 votes ahead of second-placed Lake Wiritoa, which is near Whanganui. There were a total of 1100 votes cast.

The two were among eight spots in the running for a spruce-up. Last year's winner, Whanganui's Mosquito Point, got steps, seats and a small changing shed.

Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon was pleased a smaller town had won this year. He said local people would be able to suggest improvements.

Cherry Grove is a very popular swimming spot, a thrilled Ruapehu District Council community services manager Margaret Hawthorne said.

Horizons also ran a competition for a design to be added to the changing shed at Mosquito Point. There were more than 20 entries.

The winner was 14-year-old Emma Henare, from Whanganui High School, and elements of 13-year-old Grace Smith's design will be added to hers.

There were 110 entries in the council's region-wide summer photo competition. The pictures had to be of people enjoying a region swim spot, with the location tagged.

Those photos have yet to be judged, by two from Horizons and a Manawatu Standard photographer. The winner gets a water-themed adventure worth $1500.

Horizons staff will continue monitoring water quality at more than 80 region swim spots until the end of April, with Ngāti Rangi helping in the Ruapehu District. The council's monthly, and more detailed, monitoring of 100 sites runs throughout the year.