Media advisories: Express Yourself Kāpiti, Council seeks more regular feedback, Ōtaki splash pad design picked and playground upgrades progressing

GET READY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF KĀPITI

Kāpiti Coast District Council is encouraging the district’s residents to get ready to express themselves at the Kāpiti Coast ExpressDay on Saturday 18 February.

Corporate Services Group Manager Wayne Maxwell says the Council will be there on the day to experience the expressway before it opens to traffic and celebrate the completion of this mammoth project alongside the Kāpiti Coast community.

“We’ve been on the Mackays to Peka Peka journey alongside our community right from its inception and welcome the decision to let the community walk or bus the five kilometre expressway route between Te Roto Drive in Paraparaumu and Te Moana Road in Waikanae.”

The Council has adopted “Express yourself” as its theme for the day and Mr Maxwell says the Council will have marquees located at both the Te Roto Drive and Te Moana Road site entrances.

“There’ll be something for everyone in our marquees and we’re really looking forward to being part of the day and hearing our communities’ thoughts on how the expressway will benefit our district.”

COUNCIL SEEKS MORE REGULAR FEEDBACK

A new approach to seeking residents’ opinions is being implemented by Kāpiti Coast District Council.

Strategy and Planning Group Manager Sarah Stevenson says feedback is being sought more regularly and a new online option is being offered.

“Residents’ views are important in helping us understand what they value and how happy Kāpiti communities are with the services and facilities provided by their Council,” Ms Stevenson says.

“In the past, we’ve done a once-a-year phone survey to see if our work is meeting the expectations of our residents. We’re now shifting to quarterly surveys which include online participants. Adding an online option means that more residents will have the opportunity to comment.

“Once established, the surveys will provide us with faster feedback, so we can look at ways to provide services that better meet the needs of Kāpiti residents and ratepayers.”

The online survey is available now at kapiticoast.govt.nz and closes on 21 February.

ŌTAKI SPLASH PAD DESIGN PICKED
Ōtaki will be home to a new community-designed splash pad for next summer.

Kāpiti residents have helped shaped the design of the free-to-use outdoor water park destined for Haruatai Park, next to Ōtaki Pool.

More than 400 people provided feedback through completing online surveys, filling in paper forms at the pool and through face-to-face chats with Kāpiti Coast Aquatics staff.
The Council’s Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law says there’s been an overwhelming response from the community to first picking a preferred concept design and then what water play equipment they would like.

“A whopping 75 per cent said they preferred the design concept that has no main central structure and instead lots of different standalone waters features,” Ms Law says.

“We can’t wait to build something that our community has helped design, and it will be ready in time for next summer. The splash pad is going to be a great asset for the local community and for Ōtaki visitors alike.”

What features will be incorporated in the splash pad design will be finalised over the next few weeks.
The splash pad construction will align with the pool’s rebuild – which is one of four key initiatives selected by the Council and community for development as part of FutureKāpiti – Long term plan 2015 - 35.
The pool will be closed from Friday 24 February for approximately eight months while work is carried out. The pool hall will be rebuilt, access into the building improved, a ramp added to the pool and filtration systems separated.
“The pool is an important facility for Ōtaki residents and the wider community. We’re committed to upgrading the complex and further enhancing the family-friendly facilities available in Ōtaki,” Ms Law says.

PLAYGROUND UPGRADES PROGRESSING

Work will be getting underway soon to upgrade five Kāpiti playgrounds.

Kāpiti Coast District Council gathered community feedback on playgrounds in Paraparaumu and Ōtaki that are due to be upgraded in the next financial year.

A series of drop-in sessions were run at the playgrounds at Tasman Road and Haruatai Park in Ōtaki, and Te Ātiawa Park, Kaitawa Reserve and Aorangi Road in Paraparaumu last year.

Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law says community feedback was invaluable in identifying common themes for each particular playground and knowing what popular pieces of play equipment people wanted to be featured.

“We aim to create playgrounds that are accessible, fun, varied and cater for a wide range of abilities. Each of the playgrounds have a different feel and character to it based on what the community has told us,” she says.

Although the work is part of the Council’s regular playground renewal programme for when equipment nears the end of its design life and is due for replacement, Ms Law says it’s been great to have the community help shape the final concepts.

“Our goal is to design interesting playgrounds that meet the needs of both children and their caregivers and the community's input is important so we know we’re getting it right for them,” she says.

“The focus of these new designs is on encouraging group play and interaction among all ages.”

Work is scheduled to start in March on the playgrounds in Aorangi Road and Te Ātiawa Park in Paraparaumu and Haruatai Park in Ōtaki.

Work at Kaitawa Reserve in Paraparaumu is scheduled for April and Tasman Road in Ōtaki Beach is scheduled for May.

People can find out further information at kapiticoast.govt.nz/playgrounds

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