Work is underway at Mangemangeroa Reserve to repair damage to the popular green belt after Cyclone Gabrielle wreaked havoc there at the beginning of last year.
Marion Skelton, the chair of the Friends of Mangemangeroa group, says the restoration activity began recently at the public reserve at Somerville-Shelly Park, Howick.
“Materials were moved onto the worksites by helicopter,” she says.
“The project will take approximately 14 weeks depending on the weather.
“They will repair localised slips and damaged sections of the track caused by last year’s weather events.”
Skelton says the repair jobs take place between 7am and 6pm, Mondays to Saturdays.
There are four locations for the repair works: Mangemangeroa Reserve slip; south of Shelly Park beach boat ramp; south of Whitford Bridge slip adjacent to Dog Daycare; and the Whitford Bridge culvert.
“During this work sections of the track will be temporarily closed,” says Skelton.
“At the present time the track is closed from the Mangemangeroa Reserve end to Shelly Park beach boat ramp.
“The track to Whitford Bridge remains open.”
Skelton advises visitors to Mangemangeroa to “please check the signage before walking in the reserve”.