Monday 14 September 1998

$200,000 Grant for Travis Wetland

The City Council Parks Unit has just received a substantial grant from the Lotteries Grant Board toward the enhancement of Travis Wetland. Amounting to $200,000 this grant has been made to enable the development of the Central Ponding Area.

The Central Ponding Area will become the primary focus for visitor activity at the wetland park providing the major access point to experience wildlife, native swamp forest and environmental education facilities. Ponding excavation, construction of a bird hide, planting and a walkway will be made possible by the grant.

This grant reflects an active programme of the Travis Wetland Trust and the Parks Unit to pursue sponsorship as alternative funding sources to the rates derived capital works programme. Eric Banks funded by the Burwood Pegasus Community Board as a contracted member of Chris Freeman’s Parks Planning team takes the bouquet for this latest success.

Total funding from private sources made towards the development of the Nature Heritage Park now total $439,000. A visitors centre and a second bird hide, also part of the development, have already received funding.

The Lotteries grant, together with other grants and sponsorship, will make it possible to significantly develop the Travis Wetland Nature Heritage Park’s infrastructure at an earlier date and as a consequence admit the public to the site in the near future.

Travis Wetland is the last major wetland (112ha) remnant of pre European Christchurch and will be a significant educational, recreational and ultimately tourist resource for Christchurch when developed.

Top of Page ~ Media Release index