Friday 22 November 2019
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Fast track to a Mauao quick fix
Work has begun on fixing the Mauao Base Track, with the aim of opening it for the public by Christmas. Contractors and Tauranga City Council staff have started pruning trees and preparing the site for major works to begin early next week as they look to repair damage caused by the remnants of cyclone Debbie in April 2017. There has been discussions between Mayor Tenby Powell, council staff, the Mauao Trust, Heritage New Zealand and contractors to plan the works and get them underway as soon as possible. “Mauao is a special place that is unique to Tauranga, and people have been waiting a long time for the track to be restored.
“We intend to repair the track quickly, and to come in at a fraction of the original budget,” Tenby says. After the cyclone, steps were installed to let people walk a loop around Mauao. This was considered a short-term fix because people with wheelchairs, prams and other mobility issues were unable to use the steps. The new plan involves minor excavations, re-aligning the track, a hand-rail and improved drainage. The slope will be stabilised with landscaping, geotextile cloth and a method called ‘soil nailing’. The new section will be less resilient to future slips than a previous plan that would have cost $4.65 million.
The Weekend Sun
Birthing centre turns five Jacqui and Marc Tecofsky, pictured with daughter Keira, speak highly of their birthing experience at Bethlehem Birthing Centre. Photo: Baby Love Images. in a hospital or at home. Blue and pink rings light up the side of “We also provide, as is the right of women, a Bethlehem Birthing Centre, marking the postnatal stay of up to two nights for quality rest, birth of a newborn. breastfeeding support and mothercraft education. “But we also see our role as connecting mothers But new life isn’t the only thing the centre is with each other, so they can form strong bonds and celebrating this week - it is their fifth birthday friendships and support one another - providing that Over those years there has been 1725 babies born on ‘village’ to help raise a child,” says Chloe. the centre. The centre works in collaboration with the Bay Maungatapu mum Jacqui Tecofsky birthed her of Plenty District Health Board and together daughter Keira at the centre last month and she says will be running three newborn hearing clinics her experience there was extremely positive. next month. “I had my first baby in hospital so Birthing Centr “We hope other DHBs around the country come to was a lovely change from that. The staff and support recognise that we need to be providing this level of care were amazing. It’s such a lovely facility – I can’t speak to women and babies because research has repeatedly highly enough about it,” says Jacqui. shown that the first 48 hours after birth are critical t The 12-room centre provides a nurturing home-like environment for women to give birth and offers several the future health and wellbeing of mothers, babies and whanau.” free services for Tauranga families. The centre also offers postnatal support group, Birthing Centre founder and director Chloe Wright free antenatal classes, car seat safety checks and says the centre increases its wrap-around services every breastfeeding support groups. year and is becoming a community hub, meeting the “We’re exceedingly thankful to the mothers and needs of young families. whanau who use our service – it’s an absolute privilege “As a primary birthing centre, we’ve been delighted to be part of this precious time in their lives and to offer pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies an option in Tauranga other than birthing support maternal mental health,” says Chloe.
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