Wellington City Developments
Wellington is a city that is on the move. Its hotels, roads, parks and waterfront area all undergo improvements in order to ensure the city stays vibrant, and remains a great place to visit. Here are some of the latest developments.
Spray - Interactive Water Play Area
Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre in Kilbirnie will soon gain an interactive water play area, Spray. New Zealand’s first purpose-built interactive shallow water play area, Spray is a great place for families to visit. It includes a school-age children’s area that has two tidal pools with changeable water features and a beach area. Parents can relax at the new café. Spray opens 24 February 2008.
New Park for Courtenay Place
Wellington will soon have a new park area, at the intersection of Courtenay Place and Taranaki Streets. The $1.1 million park will include an open paved area for events, markets, performances and theatre crowds. It will also have a double row of trees and ‘light boxes’ for displaying art. Construction began in January 2008, and is expected to take 3 months.
Mt Victoria Lookout Reopened
The upgrade of the Mount Victoria/Matairangi summit is complete, and ready for visitors.
Key upgrades include a new viewing platform, a more contoured path to the summit (replacing the existing steps) a more pedestrian-friendly area around the Byrd Memorial and improved lighting, traffic management and directional and information signs.
It's all go at Wellington Zoo
It’s all happening at Wellington Zoo, thanks to a $15 million grant from Wellington City Council. The money is for a major redevelopment over the next 10 years, and will go to projects that upgrade the Zoo’s facilities.
One of the projects is an African animals exhibit, which will initially feature giraffes, zebras and ostriches, but will later include African antelopes such as springboks.
More information visit: www.wellingtonzoo.com
Wellington’s Oldest Monument Restored
The Wakefield Memorial, thought to be Wellington’s oldest monument, has been restored and relocated. The memorial, which was previously located on the eastern side of the Basin Reserve, has been moved a short distance back inside. Its new site on the top of the bank is now closer to its original location.
Colonel William Wakefield was the leader of the fledgling Wellington settlement in the 1840s. The memorial was prefabricated in England and shipped to Wellington in the early 1850s, but not erected until 1882.
