Tīrau Walkway, Bridge and Domain Upgrade

Pedestrian access into the Lower Domain (Tīrau township side of the Oraka Stream) is on track to open in late summer 2019, once the ramp from the railway pedestrian crossing and loop path across the old landfill site have been completed. A grove of Kauri trees was planted at the entrance to the walkway in winter 2018, and we are hoping there is a good survival rate despite the hot, dry summer. We will open the Upper Domain (SH1/SH5 roundabout) entrance for limited parking as soon as we get bollards installed to protect the field areas from car use, so the community can use this area for exercise and dog walking.

Based on the community engagement exercise held in May and June 2018, we are proceeding with works in the order the Tīrau community endorsed.

Council has committed significant funding in the latest Long Term Plan to upgrade the Domain and complete the walkway and bridge. This will bring total project funding by Council, since the project began, to over $1.1M, with NZTA contributing an additional $270K to cover costs associated with the railway pedestrian crossing. Funding from the LTP will be released over the coming years, enabling work on the Domain to be completed in stages.

Plan for works by funding year

This is indicative and subject to change according to actual budget available per year and changing costs over time:

• 2018-19: Lower Domain to open to pedestrians - Railway crossing completion (ramp and connecting paths) and Lower Domain loop track; Upper Domain (SH1/SH5 roundabout end) gates opened with interim parking area
• 2019-20: Oraka Stream Bridge (pedestrian and bike); remaining funding to be put towards Upper Domain paths and entrance works
• 2020-21: Upper Domain entrance completion; Upper Domain fields, paths and planting
• 2021-22: Club building retrofit (only if sufficient funds remain)

The Domain Action Group is applying for funding to clear a substantial part of the Lower Domain area of weeds and replant it in natives. This, and other, future community-funded work, is anticipated to take place after the Oraka Stream Bridge has been constructed. It was always anticipated that the majority of the walkway would be constructed and maintained by volunteers under the guidance of the Tīrau Community Board.

The concept landscape plan, which forms the basis for the Domain Upgrade project is below. This plan contains both elements that are currently funded within Council’s LTP and elements that could be worked towards in future as the Domain is opened up and usage increases.

The proposed Domain plan can be seen below. Elements are numbered. Some numbers are missing, these are for elements that were not included in the final project scope.

A diagram of the proposed walkway is far below.