The Eastland Tourism Section is about to take off in exciting new directions that will establish the East Coast as a destination to rival many of New Zealand's best. The development of heritage sites at each of the Coastal communities is one new direction.
The Vision
The restoration of the Tolaga Bay wharf was the first of these projects. This refurbished structure, coupled with the adjacent Cooks Cove walkway is now a tourism destination of international class. The aim is to make Tokomaru Bay site number 2 on the East Coast Heritage Trail.
Funding
The Tokomaru Bay community recognises its responsibilities as a unified backer of this project. While it will have difficulty providing large amounts of the cash required to complete the works, it is committed to providing as much support as possible given the limitations of the community’s economic base.
Restore the wharf's concrete jetty piles
Stage 1 will involve the restoration of the jetty's concrete piles. The Tokomaru Bay Heritage Trust has the advantage of knowing exactly what this work will entail, and plans to use the same contractor who completed the restoration of the Tolaga Bay wharf. The contractor will employ the same techniques for recladding the piles as was used at Tolaga Bay.
Rebuild the wharf's wooden section
The Heritage Trust intends to completely rebuild two-thirds of the original wooden wharf structure. The existing structure will be dismantled and removed. The hope is that completing Stages 1 and 2 will enable the refurbished wharf to regain its place as one of the community's main recreational and some commercial outlet.
Restore the NZ shipping company building
The NZ Shipping Company Building operated as an office block for the ships calling at Tokomaru Bay to take away frozen carcasses, wool and livestock. It was also the store for wool waiting to be exported. This building is a quality heritage building in its own right and warrants restoration on that basis alone. The intention is for the restored building to house a viewing gallery, among other things, showing the complete history of the East Coast region from the time humans first walked the landscape. A tearooms for visitors is another option. In the large area behind the viewing gallery, space will be allocated for local craftspeople to work and display their crafts for sale to tourists.
Construct a walkway around the freezing works' ruins
A journey along the freezing works' ruins will engage tourists in a one hour walk, stopping at key points to read about and absorb the atmosphere of the different parts of the works when it was in full operation.
