Wednesday 31 August 2005

Reserve landscaping marks anniversary of John Britten's death

Improvements to the entrance of John Britten Reserve, Mt Pleasant have coincided with the tenth anniversary of the legendary motorcycle designer's death on Monday 5 September.

Christchurch City Council Parks & Waterways area advocate Kathryn Howard said the work being done by the Council is separate from that proposed in a concept plan for the Reserve, which has recently been circulated for public comment. The results of this consultation are hoped to be reported to the Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board in October.

Ms Howard said work at the entrance to the reserve, off Longridge Rd, Mt Pleasant, was hoped to improve the way people used the area. "Silver tussock, toetoe, kowhai and totara have been planted among mounds and boulders on the roadside at the entranceway, preventing anyone from driving on to the reserve. In the past, we have found a few burnt out cars there and we want to prevent this from happening in the future," she said.

The work also marks the beginning of the proposed main track through the Reserve, which the John Britten Reserve Trust has suggested should be named the Kenton Track, using John Britten's middle name.

Trust chairman Derek McCullough said the Trust was delighted that work on the new entrance and track had started. "The Trust sees the John Britten Reserve becoming a hub of a network of tracks on the Port Hills. It will give people a new way to experience this part of one of Christchurch's most valuable recreational assets," he said.

ENDS

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