Recycled soil from works being done on the Lake Road overbridge in Rotorua are being reused at a separate site in the town.

The Rotorua District Council is raising Karenga Park's soil levels in preparation for construction of the next youth space.

RDC parks manager Garry Page says the soil is being used to raise ground levels enabling better drainage of the wet areas in this park.

The soil is being transported to the park where it will be spread, levelled and left to consolidate before being seeded in October.

'Currently the surface of Karenga Park is at lake level, so water and drainage is an issue.

'By raising the ground level of areas within the park, council's aim is to have a better drained and more functional reserve.”
Works to be undertaken over the next few months include raising an area of Karenga Park which will also satisfy the requirements for the planned youth space to be constructed on this reserve.

RDC youth projects officer Jill Campbell says consultation with Koutu youth in 2010 indicated young people were interested in netball, basketball, a sports field and skateboard facilities in the community, as well as BMX mounds and a whanau barbeque area.

'As a result of young people's submissions for improved youth spaces in Fordlands, Koutu and Western Heights during council's last Ten Year Plan process, both Fordlands and Western Heights youth spaces were completed earlier this year and have proved very popular. Koutu is next in line for a youth space.

'The Koutu community is now waiting in anticipation for their own facility which their children and young people can utilise in a whanau-friendly space.”

She says they're taking away barriers to participating so families won't need to worry about transportation and costs because it's right there at their doorstep and free of charge.

A community meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 9, at Waikite Rugby Football Club to discuss the next steps in the design and construction of the youth space which is planned to be completed by December 2012.