Work on historic reserve gets under way

Hedge mulching will mark the beginning of a historic reserve being created on a valuable piece of waterfront land in Tauranga.

In 2003, the property at 29 Levers Rd in Matua, a former pa site, was purchased by Tauranga City Council with the intention of developing it into a historic reserve.

The Otumoetai Pa Historic Reserves Management Plan was developed in 2007.

The old Matherson house had already been removed from the site and archaeological investigation was complete.

Over the next few months, the council plans to remove most of the hedge that surrounded the old house site and the majority of the house foundations.

The reserve entrance would be upgraded and interpretation panels would be positioned throughout the reserve, to provide an insight and information about the history of the pa.

The reserve is scheduled to open to the public in January 2013.