If you were a child during the 70s or 80s there’s a good chance you’d have visited Marineland, Napier, in its heyday, watching the dolphins and seals in action whilst enjoying the majestic view from the grandstand.
Marineland first opened in 1965 and officially closed in 2009 but remained home to a handful of animals while the Napier City Council considered what to do with this space and the rest of Napier’s Marine Parade. Eight years on, after a lot of discussion, planning and hard work, Napier’s Marine Parade Redevelopment has officially opened to the public. It features a family-friendly area, an extended playground, a new skate park (Bay Skate) and a new pier – all using Certified Concrete® and Decorative Concrete in a variety of colours and strengths from Firth.
“The redevelopment of Napier’s Marine Parade represented an opportunity to revive the city’s coastal amenities and create a public space that belonged to all of Napier,” explains Antoinette Campbell, Director Community Services for Napier City Council.
Marineland becomes Bay Skate
The whole redevelopment project was broken down into two stages with the main contract for the redevelopment of Stage One, the former Marineland site, awarded to MCL Construction Limited. Renowned skate park builders and developers Angus McMillan Concrete were then appointed to deliver the design of skate park designer Richard Smith from Rich Landscapes. The 'plaza-style' skate park (at the southern end of the site) includes one of Marineland's old pools, cleverly converted into the new main skate bowl.
“We have built skate parks all over the country and it was great to be involved in transforming the old Marineland into what is now Bay Skate,” says Angus. “Concrete is the key ingredient in skate parks so working with the Firth team in Napier, who we know well, was easy. Working with an experienced supplier helps when using the more specialised concrete mixes which we need to use to ensure usability and durability.”
Bay Skate opened to the public in December 2016 and has seen attendance records grow month on month as people become aware of the new facility. “Bay Skate has been a huge success since it was opened,” says Antoinette. “It’s so great to see Marineland’s old grandstand repurposed in this part of the redevelopment. We already have lots of ideas about using it for concerts and other events in future. It’s such an iconic structure and of course it still has that amazing view.”
The Sunken Gardens to Bay Skate
Stage Two of the project was awarded to Russell Roads in June 2016 who were tasked with the northern end of redevelopment between the Sunken Gardens and the old Marineland site. “We were also involved in contracts for different elements on Marine Parade including the junior cycle skills track and the BMX pump track,” says Craig Jermyn, Contracts Manager for Russell Roads.
For Russell Roads this project has been a complex one, with many creative aspects including sculptural forms, water features, and textural finishes. “We have worked with Firth as our preferred concrete supplier for many years,” adds Craig. “We’ve worked together long enough for them to understand how we operate. They understand that plans can change and they’re flexible to those changes and willingly accommodate our needs and demands. We really appreciate this as we know we’re not their only customer.”
Craig says that there were a number of non-standard mixes and colours required in the project and that the collaboration with Firth was key. “They were very helpful, working out how to vary their ‘brew’ to accommodate all the different additives and colours required. In particular, it was critical to plan and pre-order to ensure the different ‘brews’ were ready at the right time.”
Fibres were added for strength and up to five additives were required in some mixes for waterproofing to construct the Reef Garden and other water features. “The Firth team was excellent at that, working out the ratios and having the right quantities ready in time.”
In 2015, Russell Roads merged with CPM Concrete Ltd, which brought its long-standing relationship with Firth into the combined business. This relationship with Firth started when Robbie Gale, Managing Director of Russell Roads, was just 11 years old. When Robbie was 19 he started his own business, Clive Concrete, and a few years later set up his next business, Mid City Concrete, eventually progressing onto CPM Concrete in 2008. “I’ve been with Firth right from the start, and it’s a relationship I value immensely,” says Robbie.
“This project gave us a unique opportunity to showcase our diversity and range of skills while providing the public with a fantastic addition to Marine Parade,” adds Robbie. “Working with Firth to complete this project has been an achievement we can collectively be extremely proud of.”
Customer: Napier City Council
Stage 1 – Bay Skate
Main Contractor: MCL Construction Limited
Sub Contractor: Angus McMillan Concrete (AMC)
Skate Park Designer: Richard Smith, Rich Landscapes
Stage 2 – Sunken Gardens to Bay Skate
Civil Construction Contractor: Russell Roads
Landscape Designer: Boffa Miskell
Location: Marine Parade, Napier
Product: Certified Concrete® and Decorative Concrete
Overview
The design has taken inspiration from Maori mythology and the local environment. Framed by Mahia Peninsula and Cape Kidnappers, this is Napier’s place to talk to the Pacific and to the wider global community.
The new space includes artwork by Jacob Scott, incorporating pou and etchings, a whalebone sculpture, reflection pool and enchanting ‘bubble ups’ along the pathway - plus a community basketball court, seating, landscaping and drinking fountains.
Did you know that Marine Parade was born from the 1931 earthquake?
The beachfront reserve is a very recent addition to the New Zealand coastline. A very small portion of it was reclaimed after the 1931 earthquake by depositing rubble from the devastated inner city. The bulk of the reserve, however, has been created since then through natural beach accretion.
Several of Napier’s best-known built features are located in the gardens. The Sound Shell, with its accompanying colonnades and arches, and the Veronica Sun Bay (which is named after a Royal Navy ship) commemorate the earthquake. The Tom Parker Fountain was built in 1936. The famous Pania of the Reef statue was presented to the city by the Napier 30,000 Club in 1954. Other notable features of the Marine Parade area are the Spirit of Napier, the Napier Conference Centre, the National Aquarium of New Zealand and Bay Skate (formerly Marineland).
