|
Eastern Walkway
The Lake Ōkāreka Community Association have in October 2021 received resource consent to complete the walkway around the entire Lake of Ōkāreka. The construction of the new track across the Lake Ōkāreka Scenic Reserve and Playnes Farm will improve recreational access for local residents, enhance the experience for fee paying guests in the community managed DOC campground, offer inclusion into the trail running event schedule and benefit Rotorua as a tourism destination famous for its' amazing walking trails. At present there are two key walkways: One from Boyes Beach to DOC Campground and the other from Acacia Road to the Tarawera outlet along the boardwalk. The linking track of approx 3.8km has been designed to be a low profile family friendly walk with a gentle gradient which would be a total round-the-lake walk of just over 10km. |
FAQ
Will I see the walkway from the settlement?
The entire walkway length will be under canopy about one third to a half of the way up the eatern slope without lakeside access until the outlet. It will be of lower profile than the existing tracks and avoid tree removal where possible. As the canopy will not be changed, it is not expected that the walkway will be visible.
Will it generate erosion and slips?
Track construction will involve a “Construction Management Plan” with methods to avoid any overladen discharge of solids. The design will incorporate features such as bridges, culverts, retaining and clean water diversions as appropriate. Designing a track well first time will reduce future maintenance costs and any erosion.
Why do we need to build a bridge?
A crossing used to exist over the outlet. However, this has been removed by Bay of Plenty Regional Council in response to lake flooding events. LŌCA approached Council to ask for assistance with a new crossing yet their project went over budget. As such, a resource consent is not required for this bridge. A pole bridge of 8m span has been costed between $20k to $30k including design and building consent. Materials and labour we will aim to gain local support for.
Who owns the land?
Department of Conservation manage the majority of the track in the Lake Ōkāreka Scenic Reserve and the rest of the trail to the south traverses the Playne Family Farm - who have granted permission for this track by way of long-term licence.
Wasn’t there a different route earlier?
Yes. A past proposal was to build a hiking trail on the ridgeline. The LŌCA committee since has unanimously accepted the new design as it is of easier grade and less distance (making it more family friendly), it holds resource consent, has affected party approval and more opportunity for future recreational access.
What do mana whenua think?
Support from both Tuhourangi and Raukawa were gained in the consent process. With Tuhourangi as mana whenua, a Cultural Impact Assessment was undertaken which both helped with the understanding of the project, historic context and identified features on the ridgeline to avoid - including the site of an urupa. We will continue to involve mana whenua in the future.
Does the track have a name?
Not yet. It is simply known as the Eastern Walkway for now due to aspect. The entire length could be named rather than just this section.
How much will it cost?
Initial estimates for the track alone were about $100,000. It is anticipated to be higher given inflation, appointing a project manager and some additional design work, including a bridge over the outlet. DoC have provided design and costings for a similar bridge engineered and built at $30,000.
Most costs to date have kindly been covered either pro-bono or by the Walking Access Commission Enhanced Access Grant, with some community contribution from operation of the campgrounds.
Who pays?
Funding streams are currently being investigated. LŌCA has funds earned via the campground and allocated to works in the DoC Reserve and environs - this is included in that scope. We can apply to the various charitable trusts for funding for the capital of the project. However, they will require a holistic picture of our funding.
More recently, the campground has required significant investment, in excess of income. This has been related to COVID shortfall in tourism It is anticipated that all future DoC Reserve maintenance costs will be covered by campground income.
How many people will it employ?
Construction is anticipated to take a project manager and 3 staff approximately 12 weeks to complete. Rotorua already has some of the world's best trail builders experienced in local conditions.
What are the effects on the bush?
Track construction will require the disturbance of soil and removal of vegetation. With minimal tree removal proposed in forming the track, the biggest effects will be the incursion of pests along a track. The existing area is already prone to wallaby browsing and having better access will help in better controlling populations. On the balance, the track will be better for managing these pests.
To mitigate and plant pest incursion, equipment will be steam cleaned prior to arrival and pest management in the form of baiting and trapping will help manage populations.
Will there be more parking?
No further parking is currently planned with users directed to existing facilities - i.e. Boyes Beach, DoC Campground and Acacia Rd. With a loop track, parking can be more distributed among existing lake assets.
Will there be more visitors?
There will be more visitors that enjoy walking longer distances of approx. 10-11km. Lake Ōkāreka currently receives a large volume of summer visitors to the lake as a recreation attraction. This is unlikely to change the nature of those visitors, nor their numbers. Think about the type of people who like to take long walks and their general behaviour.
How will this help the community?
More recreational access - particularly middle distance and family friendly, increase the desirability for campers to use the available facilities. More fee paying campers generate more revenue for community pest management projects and activities. It is also hoped that such guests and more eyes will help reduce some issues of vandalism and antisocial behaviour.
Who are you working with?
So far, we have worked with affected parties, landowners (including DoC) and mana whenua in forming the track design and permissions, as well as both Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional. Specialist ecologists, track builders and cultural impacts assessors have been engaged.
Will I see the walkway from the settlement?
The entire walkway length will be under canopy about one third to a half of the way up the eatern slope without lakeside access until the outlet. It will be of lower profile than the existing tracks and avoid tree removal where possible. As the canopy will not be changed, it is not expected that the walkway will be visible.
Will it generate erosion and slips?
Track construction will involve a “Construction Management Plan” with methods to avoid any overladen discharge of solids. The design will incorporate features such as bridges, culverts, retaining and clean water diversions as appropriate. Designing a track well first time will reduce future maintenance costs and any erosion.
Why do we need to build a bridge?
A crossing used to exist over the outlet. However, this has been removed by Bay of Plenty Regional Council in response to lake flooding events. LŌCA approached Council to ask for assistance with a new crossing yet their project went over budget. As such, a resource consent is not required for this bridge. A pole bridge of 8m span has been costed between $20k to $30k including design and building consent. Materials and labour we will aim to gain local support for.
Who owns the land?
Department of Conservation manage the majority of the track in the Lake Ōkāreka Scenic Reserve and the rest of the trail to the south traverses the Playne Family Farm - who have granted permission for this track by way of long-term licence.
Wasn’t there a different route earlier?
Yes. A past proposal was to build a hiking trail on the ridgeline. The LŌCA committee since has unanimously accepted the new design as it is of easier grade and less distance (making it more family friendly), it holds resource consent, has affected party approval and more opportunity for future recreational access.
What do mana whenua think?
Support from both Tuhourangi and Raukawa were gained in the consent process. With Tuhourangi as mana whenua, a Cultural Impact Assessment was undertaken which both helped with the understanding of the project, historic context and identified features on the ridgeline to avoid - including the site of an urupa. We will continue to involve mana whenua in the future.
Does the track have a name?
Not yet. It is simply known as the Eastern Walkway for now due to aspect. The entire length could be named rather than just this section.
How much will it cost?
Initial estimates for the track alone were about $100,000. It is anticipated to be higher given inflation, appointing a project manager and some additional design work, including a bridge over the outlet. DoC have provided design and costings for a similar bridge engineered and built at $30,000.
Most costs to date have kindly been covered either pro-bono or by the Walking Access Commission Enhanced Access Grant, with some community contribution from operation of the campgrounds.
Who pays?
Funding streams are currently being investigated. LŌCA has funds earned via the campground and allocated to works in the DoC Reserve and environs - this is included in that scope. We can apply to the various charitable trusts for funding for the capital of the project. However, they will require a holistic picture of our funding.
More recently, the campground has required significant investment, in excess of income. This has been related to COVID shortfall in tourism It is anticipated that all future DoC Reserve maintenance costs will be covered by campground income.
How many people will it employ?
Construction is anticipated to take a project manager and 3 staff approximately 12 weeks to complete. Rotorua already has some of the world's best trail builders experienced in local conditions.
What are the effects on the bush?
Track construction will require the disturbance of soil and removal of vegetation. With minimal tree removal proposed in forming the track, the biggest effects will be the incursion of pests along a track. The existing area is already prone to wallaby browsing and having better access will help in better controlling populations. On the balance, the track will be better for managing these pests.
To mitigate and plant pest incursion, equipment will be steam cleaned prior to arrival and pest management in the form of baiting and trapping will help manage populations.
Will there be more parking?
No further parking is currently planned with users directed to existing facilities - i.e. Boyes Beach, DoC Campground and Acacia Rd. With a loop track, parking can be more distributed among existing lake assets.
Will there be more visitors?
There will be more visitors that enjoy walking longer distances of approx. 10-11km. Lake Ōkāreka currently receives a large volume of summer visitors to the lake as a recreation attraction. This is unlikely to change the nature of those visitors, nor their numbers. Think about the type of people who like to take long walks and their general behaviour.
How will this help the community?
More recreational access - particularly middle distance and family friendly, increase the desirability for campers to use the available facilities. More fee paying campers generate more revenue for community pest management projects and activities. It is also hoped that such guests and more eyes will help reduce some issues of vandalism and antisocial behaviour.
Who are you working with?
So far, we have worked with affected parties, landowners (including DoC) and mana whenua in forming the track design and permissions, as well as both Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional. Specialist ecologists, track builders and cultural impacts assessors have been engaged.
