Canterbury Railway Society Inc

News

Maori Village Site Work Begins

4/5/2002

Work has commenced to clear the site of the Tamaki Brothers' Maori Village tourism development on Wood Hill. The Wood Hill part of Ferrymead Heritage Park has been sold for the development in exchange for some land in another part of the Park site.

Contractors have been engaged in constructing a roadway from Truscotts Road alongside the railway line northward and this will eventually have a walkway alongside it when completed.

The former concrete floored shed of the 15" gauge miniature railway has been demolished. The concrete foundations show graphic evidence of the unstable nature of the land on the hill, a once flat floor having sunk in a number of places.

Also on the hill are two cut and cover tunnels built in 1982 for the miniature railway. These were never brought into use and are also showing signs of decay. Demolition also appears to be the likely fate of these structures.

The new construction at the site will require special account to be taken of the unstable nature of the landfill and the presence of methane gas generation within it. Earth fill is to be placed over some inadequately covered areas of the site prior to construction taking place.

The City Council received 41 submissions in public consultation on the Maori village with the majority being in favour. A land lease is almost ready for signing and the Tamaki Tours operators are planning for an April 2003 opening date of the village.

Photo Gallery

	DESCRIPTION	LAST UPDATED
	Foundations of miniature railway shed 04/02	04 May 2002
	Miniature railway tunnels on Wood Hill 4/02	04 May 2002
	Road construction Wood Hill 3/02	04 May 2002
	Signal tower Wood Hill 3/02	04 May 2002