Rotorua Lakes Council received clear support for the closure of the northern part of Kuirau Street from the community and as a result, a decision has been made to keep the road closure in place for the foreseeable future.

The majority of the feedback received noted that the current closure had a considerably positive outcome.

Background

In January 2023, Rotorua Lakes Council began trialing a six-month road closure at Kuirau Park. This was done to preserve the recreational values and protect the natural environment of the reserve, while ensuring that the public could enjoy this reserve safely.

Repeated damage caused by vehicle use on the reserve affected both nearby residents and the community and is detrimental to the natural environment.

In response to this, the trial road closure was put in place so that Council could monitor the reserve and environments. We then asked the community to hear your thoughts on the trial road closure to help inform next steps.

The closure impacted the road section from the Tarewa Road entrance through to the central Kuirau Park roundabout.

For the duration of the closure period, locked gates were placed at either side of the road section as well as rocks surrounding the perimeter. Pedestrians and cyclists can still access the area through the designated tracks, as well as cycle or walk along the closed road section.