Pukenamu Queen’s Park landscape project

The contract to install the paving and related items for the new main entrance to the redeveloped Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery has been awarded to Fulton Hogan.

This specific work is referred to as stage 1A (concept image shown above) of a wider landscaping project at Pukenamu Queen’s Park that will be delivered over time as funding allows. The four-month programme of work for stage 1A started on Thursday, 6 June 2024.

The initial priority before paving is laid is to install stormwater infrastructure from Cameron Terrace to the new wing – Te Pātaka o Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa – of the redeveloped gallery building. This work began on 18 June and is expected to take three weeks to complete.

The stormwater infrastructure work will be followed by the installation of the pavers, which will begin from the entrance way to the gallery and proceed to the front area of the Davis Library.

The extensive paving area will also include a "feature" paving layout – please see diagrams below. As well as paving, a raingarden and other plantings, along with seating and lighting, will be installed along the entrance.

Stage 1A landscaping / paving area (within red outline below)

Stage 1A landscaping / paving area – feature paving detail

SAFETY NOTE – Because this work and the broader gallery redevelopment is occurring in the immediate vicinity of the Davis Library, which will continue to remain open for community use, public safety is of paramount concern.

Regular visitors to the Davis and Alexander libraries have been advised of the imminent increase in heavy traffic in the area, along with associated temporary parking restrictions due to contractor truck movements and a staging area.

Dedicated pedestrian access to the Davis Library has been established and is clearly marked for library users – for full safety information including a simplified map, please see the council’s public notice.

PROJECT UPDATE - 17 JULY 2024

Preliminary work is underway to install underground drainage infrastructure directly in front of the Davis Library (shown above). The underground infrastructure will link with the Sarjeant Gallery’s existing pipes as well as connect to the new Te Pātaka o Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa building.

Paving and other landscape elements that will form the entrance to Te Pātaka o Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa (see concept image at the top of this section) will follow this preliminary work.

All work to complete the entrance – including the installation of the underground infrastructure – before the official reopening of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery on 9 November 2024 is proceeding to schedule.

Archaeological work in front of the Davis Library

Under the Historic Places Act 1993, Whanganui District Council is required to conduct an archaeological assessment when earthworks occur at Pukenamu Queen’s Park.

Whanganui-based Archaeology North Ltd is carrying out the archaeological assessment work in front of the Davis Library, an area referred to as Location One (see map below) in the archaeological authority the council has obtained from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga – more information about the various archaeological aspects and requirements of this work here(PDF, 3MB) .

The drainage earthworks in Location One have so far uncovered animal bones and ceramic material laying under an old iron pipe (shown below).

The first stage of the concept began with a site visit from Warren and Mahoney on 28 March 2023 that included a series of meetings with park stakeholders to gain an understanding of their aspirations and concerns.

This was followed by the development of a spatial strategy informed by earlier co-design work and stakeholder feedback. Following review of the spatial strategy with Rōpū in early June, Warren and Mahoney developed the first draft of a concept plan. Towards the end of June, the team again met with Rōpū and stakeholders to present the draft concept and seek feedback. There was a relatively strong focus during this workshop on car parking from both a positioning and provision perspective.

From this workshop feedback, recommendations were taken and the concept adjusted where possible to reflect these. A staged approach to the wider landscaping was discussed with the primary focus now on stage 1A – the arrival area and entrance through to the gallery (see below).

A further stakeholder workshop was held on 6 July, where Michael Hawes from Warren and Mahoney presented an updated design that reflected the earlier feedback. Several layout options were provided for discussion. There was again a relatively strong focus on traffic movement and car parking, with some progress and agreement made regarding parking options alongside the Davis Library.
 
These options needed to be tested against how they could work spatially alongside Iwi expectations for cultural expression and the ceremonial aspects that will require the use of the entrance area to the gallery. 

This was progressed through two site workshops with Rōpū in mid- and late-July to test and confirm the layout around the gallery and to ensure we are interpreting and reflecting the cultural expression accurately. During these workshops some refinements were made to better accommodate ceremonial processes, existing trees and site levels while retaining the overall concept of the draft plan and earlier co-design work. 

In parallel, the design team has been finalising the concept design report, taking on-board comments received for the wider park to further define proposed pedestrian and vehicle flow, parking, and key spaces across the park that will enable the plan to deliver on the identified key objectives.

The primary focus through the workshops has been on the immediate surrounds of the gallery – this is now referred to as stage 1. This phase is proceeding through preliminary design to test technical considerations – it will then move to the next phase in the co-design process, which is to develop a detailed design. 

Stakeholder engagement meetings are planned for October. Alongside these meetings, there may be a need to have smaller-group teams meetings where stakeholder requirements are quite specific to a particular group and need more discussion. 

Our stakeholders include our Iwi partners, and representatives from services that are either situated within the reserve or have a strong association with Pukenamu Queen's Park. The landscape team will continue to meet with the Rōpū Kaitiaki at regular intervals during the ongoing design process, and there will be regular updates with the gallery redevelopment project team. 

The current timeline aims to have the detailed design and quantity surveyor work for stage 1 completed in the first week of November 2023 to allow this stage to be delivered in conjunction with the redeveloped gallery. 

In order to ensure we are focused on getting the immediate surrounds of the gallery as complete as possible ahead of the opening, and to manage project design and implementation costs, a decision has been made to deliver stage 1 in line with the opening of the gallery and pause stage 2. 

The subsequent phases of stage 2 will be delivered as funding allows. Please see the proposed staging below. Stage 1 includes 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d – all other references will be considered as part of stage 2.