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Last modified: 07 Sep 2021 1:16pm

nine colourful standing in a construction area

A space for all the community is starting to take shape in the new Rolleston town centre.

Nine colourful poles decorated by schools from around Rolleston have been installed in the sensory space next door to Te Ara Ātea.

Nine schools have been involved in creating the feature poles and decorative tiles for the sensory space. The poles feature a range of themes from representing unique school character to the region’s landscape, flora, birdlife, and environment.

Waitaha School has also created mosaic tiles for a tree ring mosaic, which has been put together by Springston artist Raewyn Beaver of MACS Mosaics. The mosaic will be installed on site in the coming weeks.

The sensory experience, designed to cater for people’s different neurological and physical needs, is being built by Armitage Williams, and is intended to be open by the end of the year, around the same time as Te Ara Ātea.

Surrounded by raised gardens and trees, the experience will be a highly accessible space with a treat for all the senses, from a quiet space, to areas with bursts of colour, musical instruments, different tactile experiences, smells and even tastes from edible plants.

Council Acting Major Projects Property Manager Phil Millar says it’s an exciting step to see the posts and mosaics going in on site. “The sensory space is a real community project and it’s really cool to see these colourful and really thoughtful pieces going in. All the artists involved have put their heart into it and created something really special that will be a long-lasting source of joy for everyone using the space