New Titahi Bay beauty spot unveiled

A stunning mural on an electrical substation in Titahi Bay was unveiled this morning by Porirua City Council and the Titahi Bay Horticultural Society.

The Toms Road mural is part of Porirua City’s Adopt-a-Spot project, and features a Titahi Bay beach scene, with a sneak-peek inside one of the Bay’s iconic boatsheds.

Porirua City Councillor ‘Ana Coffey, who spoke at the unveiling, says the Adopt-a-Spot project is a chance to do something practical to make a positive difference to the city and your neighbourhood.

“The mural is beautiful and includes so many Titahi Bay elements. It’s a real example of the community stepping up and a great partnership between the community and Council.”

Gill Palmer, President of the Titahi Bay Horticultural Society, says the artist Ellen Coup has done a wonderful job in capturing the spirit of the bay and everyone is delighted with the end result. "One of the aims of the society is to preserve and enhance beauty spots in the district, in conjunction with local bodies and government departments. We chose the Toms Road spot as it is a key route to the beach and the Surf Club – and the Wellington Electricity box on the corner was crying out for some beautification! We managed the project, with financial support from the Porirua City Council.”

Mural artist Ellen Coup took 10 days to complete the painting, which provided additional challenges as a 3D object. Ellen worked off photos of the nearby beach, but had help from locals to fine-tune some of the details. Ellen says she is honoured to join the other mural artists in the Bay and for her work to be part of the mural walk.

The artwork incorporates many key Titahi Bay beach activities in the beach scene, with tamariki and whanau playing in the sand, dipping their toes in the water, swimming, or out in fishing from boats. The nearby Titahi Bay Surf Lifesaving club is represented in the rescue board pictured at one end of the mural, with the inside of a boatshed at the other. A Pied Oystercatcher, rainbow skink, Bellbird and fantail can also be seen. The reverse side of the substation features Taupata, a tough coastal native plant.

There are two other adopted spots nearby in Titahi Bay, and the Toms Road spot will form part of the Titahi Bay mural walk. Others in Porirua are the Paremata rail bridge underpass, Secret Valley in Pukerua Bay and Taupo Crescent in Plimmerton.

Adopt-a-spot can be a place near where people live or pass each day on their way to work, taking the kids to school, or walking the dog. People can enlist the help of their neighbours or community groups by getting them on board as well.

Groups looking to adopt a spot should get in touch with Richard Witheford Smith by emailing rwitheford@pcc.govt.nz. More about the Titahi Bay Horticultural Society and their work can be found on their website www.titahibayhorticulturalsociety.com.