Posted on March 28, 2022
The project to revitalise Whanganui’s port may result in a new community space being built on reclaimed land.
The revitalisation project, Te Pūwaha, is being undertaken as a collaboration between Whanganui District Council, Whanganui iwi and hapū and other groups.
It is the first major project involving the river under its status as Te Awa Tupua, enshrined in law by Parliament in 2017.
The law recognises the Whanganui River as an indivisible and living whole with legal rights, similar to what happened with Te Urewera 2014.
As part of the plan to revitalise the port, Whanganui District Council is set to apply for consent to dredge part of the river and reclaim a section from near Gilberd St towards the back of the recreational slipway on Wharf St.
Dredging would remove sediment, silt and sand from near the wharves – which are set to be rebuilt – with the area nearby then reclaimed.
Sediment is an ongoing issue in the area, with both tides and deforestation causing it to gather.
Council chief executive David Langford said strengthening the wharves was part of a plan for improved social, recreational and economic use of the area.
Using dredged material to reclaim part of the river could create a new community space, he said.
While the council was already talking to various groups about the proposal, including hapū and iwi, it also wanted public feedback on what the space could be used for.
Te Pūwaha project director Hayden Turoa said it would be great to have the community give ideas on what the space could be.
The area could include an enclosed lagoon for things like waka ama, a play space for children and a wetland to help with environmental protection.
“Te Pūwaha wants to understand aspirations of the whole community and hapū are leading the work to guide the council as they take this approach out,” Turoa said.
Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall said the chance to make a new space through reclamation would give people in Castlecliff, the suburb where it would take place, a fantastic asset.
It, and the wider port project, would be an asset for everyone for decades, he said.
Dredging would start in early 2023 if consent was approved, while a land use consent would need to be filed if people supported the reclamation space.
People have until April 22 to give the district council feedback on the plan, with information available via its website.
