An artist's impression of how the finished park will look. Photo / supplied.
An artist's impression of how the finished park will look. Photo / supplied.
Mountain biking, running, and walking will be the biggest attractions in an adventure park being planned for the hills of Porirua.
Canadian company Select Contracts wants to create the Porirua Adventure Park in the grounds of Spicer Botanical Park, at the foot of Rangituhi.
The company's promising a chairlift to carry visitors up Rangituhi, with a cafe seating 200 at the bottom and another smaller cafe at the top, for visitors who want a view.
Once at the top of the chairlift visitors will have a choice of mountain biking, walking, or running trails, all free to use.
One is expected to pass a large reservoir, which the company says will be a good place for bird spotting and picnicking.
The park isn't quite a done deal, but Select Contracts managing director Chris Sutton and Porirua Mayor Mike Tana will meet soon to sign an agreement to lease the land.
Sutton said they were committed to making sure the development was world class.
"Our aim is to create an amazing family friendly facility that will become a world class destination to add to New Zealand's international offering and to work very closely with the local community to make sure their needs are met with this facility.
"We are at the beginning of a lengthy and complex resource consent process and there are no pre-determined outcomes yet.
"A lot of work must be done before the development can break ground but we look forward to working with all parties to make this happen and to a positive response from the community and market".
The location of the park on Rangituhi / Colonial Knob. Photo / supplied.
If all goes well, Sutton expects work to start next year and for the park to open in 2019.
Tana said the company was investing around $21 million for the project.
"This is an amazing opportunity for Porirua funded by Select Contracts.
"We expect over 100 new jobs will be created to manage the influx of visitors to the city.
"Estimates show around 80,000 local users will visit per annum and a potential economic impact, over five years, of around $40 million coming into the Wellington economy.
"Most tracks will be ridge-riding/walking experiences and no tracks will be built through Porirua Scenic Reserve."
Ngati Toa manager resource management and communications Leana Barriball said the iwi supported what it seen so far.
"Select Contracts and the council have engaged Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira on the proposal to develop an adventure park that spans across DOC and PCC land.
"We don't have any concerns with Select Contracts applying for a concession to DoC for the proposed adventure park.
"In all circumstances like these Ngāti Toa are concerned with destruction of wāhi tapu sites and other significant sites which may be the case here. However, we will work with Select Contracts to ensure conditions provide for this protection as well as other concerns we may have going forward."
Council parks manager Oliva Dovey said they would stay involved to make sure the environment was well looked after.
"We all want to get the balance right between providing an excellent recreation opportunity while also protecting our special green spaces.
"This development can be great news for both recreationalists and environmentalists."
