Rakaia views just waiting on loos

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

They have the views and now just need the loos.

A Matariki observation deck has been installed next to what will be a new toilet block at the Rakaia Gorge Campground, with the $450,000 project on track to be completed by the end of the year.

Council infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said while the platform has been constructed, it is “not ready for opening as it still requires some finishing work and signoff”.

“There is no public access at this stage and is still a secured work site.”

The old public toilets at the Rakaia Gorge Campground, which were built in the 1970s, are being demolished and replaced with a new prefabricated dry-vault toilet block.

“The new toilets are arriving at the end of November and will be operational a couple of weeks later.”

For the Matariki viewing platform, there will be interpretive signage and a Matariki narrative, which the council is working with Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, McCann said.

There is also some lighting, deck and picnic furniture, new carparks and path, and landscaping to complete around the area.

The site is tracking towards being open to the public in December, with the details of an official opening and site blessing still to be confirmed.

The project is running under budget, McCann said, with the $451,000 project receiving $277,000 from the Government’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF).

Council open spaces manager Ian Soper explained in March that round six of TIF applications last year had a directive to incorporate a focus on the Matariki public holiday, which was why the council’s toilet replacement had included the star viewing deck.

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TIF fund finished

The Tourism Infrastructure Fund has come to an end.

MBIE manager of investment management performance David Talbot said budget allocations for the fund have now been exhausted, with round seven the final planned round.

“Decisions for the future of a TIF is for the incoming government.”

It was introduced in 2017 to provide up to $25 million annually to develop tourism-related infrastructure in regions facing pressure from tourism growth.

Over the seven rounds since 2017, the Ashburton District Council received $1,175,273 for three projects.

It received $739,945 for the upgrade of the Rakaia Salmon site in 2019, $158,328 for enhancing the rest areas at Taylors Stream and Awa Awa Rata Reserve in 2021, and then $277,000 for the redevelopment of Rakaia Gorge toilets and Matariki observation deck in 2022.

Neighbouring Selwyn District Council has cashed in almost $2m of funding across all seven rounds of the TIF to upgrade its public toilet network.

They have received a total of $1,954,450 with the majority of the projects related to upgrades or installation of new public toilets.

The Southland District Council received the most from the TIF, receiving $10,518,535 – which included $6.5m towards the Te Anau wastewater project.

The Westland District Council received $6,828,115, followed by Thames-Coromandel ($6,554,857), Queenstown Lakes ($5,336,781) and the Far North District Council $5,002,371.