HOWICKIANS could stroll through ‘Fencible Walk’ if a reserve concept plan is approved.
It’s the name proposed for the reserve at 108 Picton St, the former Howick police station site.
The Howick Community Board approved, in principle, site plans on Monday. They include a pedestrian link from the main street to the Howick Library, identified as the primary purpose of the site.
“The key intention was to create a connection through the site that linked with the Howick Library,” says Manukau City Council parks project manager Kevin Kingston.
“The remainder of the site was to be transformed into a passive recreational space that had access to this link and had a visual appearance that complemented the character of the village.”
The site will also feature some retaining walls with garden beds, brick piers, trellis screens, seats, lighting and planting. The council has allocated $150,000 towards site construction (Times, June 28), though board members believe volunteers could complete much of the work.
Howick city councillor Sharon Stewart told the board the Howick Lions Club is keen to pitch in, and can lend a range of services.
“I think there could be some savings. We may be able to do a lot more with that $150,000.”
Fellow councillor Jami-Lee Ross also backs the concept plan, but says the wall adjoining the site needs to be tidied.
Board member Adele White says community input into the project had been well received, with a number of positive suggestions considered.
She says people favoured the space being relatively open, and that the design fits the primary purpose of providing a link to the library.
The revised plan comes after an initial design was open to public submissions last year (Times, November 6, 2006).
