114 | Hutt City Council: Walter Mildenhall T T Bernadette Cooney Rejuventaing Naenae town centre Hutt City Council’s efforts to rejuvenate Naenae town centre as part of its Whakatupu Ngaengae initiative have already delivered the new Te Ngaengae Pool and Fitness Centre a “Our goal is to create a space where everyone feels welcome—a place that fosters connections, encourages active lifestyles, and celebrates the rich cultural fabric of Naenae.” COMMUNITY Work on the third stage of a broader programme of urban regeneration for Naenae in Lower Hutt city is underway, with the development of Walter Mildenhall Park on the corner of Treadwell Street and Everest Ave. The works mark a significant milestone in Hutt City Council’s efforts to rejuvenate Naenae town centre as part of its Whakatupu Ngaengae initiative which has already delivered the new Te Ngaengae Pool and Fitness Centre and the transformation of the historic Naenae Post Office into the Te Mako Naenae Community Centre. These developments collectively aim to create a vibrant, connected, and inclusive community space for Naenae, says Andrea Blackshaw, Hutt City Council Director of Neighbourhood and Communities. The Walter Mildenhall Park finalised design incorporates the preferences of the wider community, who provided input during consultation with the Naenae Community Advisory Group in 2023. “This park is a testament to our community’s vision and collaboration. By integrating their feedback, we’ve designed a space that reflects Naenae’s unique identity and meets the diverse needs of its residents,” says Andrea. A seismic assessment of Naenae’s pool in 2018 found it to be under strengthened so a program of works was agreed and combined with two other projects to become Whakatupu Ngaengae. “Residents made it clear they wanted their pool back; they wanted a community centre and an open green space with facilities. That green space is now underway following the completion of the pool and community centres.” The design incorporates landscaped gardens and artistic features, playful spaces with swings and zones for skaters and scooters, plus shared barbecue and picnic areas - all next to the Ngaengae Pool and Fitness Centre. This aquatic centre has a 50-metre swimming pool, two hydroslides, a family friendly leisure pool and a gym. The park design emphasises safety, accessibility, and inclusivity, aiming to facilitate recreation, cultural expression, and community connection across all age groups. “We’re creating a playful landscape which can also accommodate future enhancements, allowing for potential additions as the community needs evolve,” says Hutt City Council project manager and client representative, Andrew Quinn, who is overseeing the $2.4 million redevelopment. “Our goal is to create a space where everyone feels welcome—a place that fosters connections, encourages active lifestyles, and celebrates the rich cultural fabric of Naenae.” Walter Mildenhall Park redevelopment has been a collaborative effort involving the Naenae Community Advisory Group, local residents, and Local Landscape Architecture Collective at Third Studio who have overseen the landscaping design. “We also have Sierra Delta Civil on board as our civil works contractor, plus contract administrator and project manager Aecom and quantity surveyors BBD. A smallish but very competent team.” Construction is progressing as planned with earthworks and drainage underway. “Once that is complete, we’ll start bringing in the plants and trees and play spaces, lights and garden furniture.” The redevelopment of Walter Mildenhall Park is on schedule for completion later this year, in time for summer use. Those interested in viewing the design plans can view them at Te Mako Naenae Community Centre or Te Ngaengae Pool and Fitness Centre.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=