Future of Kaiapoi aqua sports park to be decided
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
The Waimakariri District Council will vote on Tuesday, August 2, on whether to extend an agreement to develop a proposed aqua sports park in Kaiapoi.
Two options will be on the table after the Kaiapoi East Residents’ Association (KERA) presented an alternative option to the WHoW Charitable Trust’s proposed aqua sports park to a Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board meeting last week.
Community and recreation manager Chris Brown said a report had been prepared outlining the choice between extending the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the trust for a further two years or allowing KERA to develop a community space on the site.
The MOU was signed between the council and the trust in August 2020 for two years, with the option of a two year extension, to develop an aqua sports park concept in the Kaiapoi east regeneration area to the north of Kaiapoi River.
A separate three-year license to occupy agreement was signed last year allowing the trust to operate an aqua play park in Lake Courtenay, to the south of the river.
Brown said there was no reason why both proposals could not be accommodated.
KERA chairperson Michelle MacWilliams proposed turning the site into a native regenerating forest with picnic areas, walkways and areas for free activities such as petanque.
‘‘We have reached out to business owners and many of them are on their knees. We don’t want them to have to wait for another three years for something that might not happen.
‘‘We are looking at something that will bring benefit in the spring. It will bring people in and it’s free, so people can spend their money in the stores.’’
MacWilliams said the proposal had support from Ryman Healthcare and other potential funders.
The Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community granted KERA permission last year to establish a pocket forest around the perimeter of the site.
Brown said should councillors decide to extend the MOU with the WHoW Charitable Trust, he would reach out to KERA.
Options for how the two organisations could work together and how KERA’s ideas could be accommodated on the site and on other council reserve land would be discussed.
‘‘There are some environmental regeneration projects already under way, such as the Honda Forest, and we’ve been developing dog parks and walk ways, but there’s always room for more,’’ Brown said.
‘‘The council just needs to look at the proposals and make a decision for what’s going to be the best four economic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing for the district and long term what’s going to be the best for Kaiapoi.’’
When asked at last week’s community board meeting whether KERA would be willing to work with the trust, MacWilliams gave an emphatic ‘‘No!’’.
‘Healthy’ response to Waimakariri’s Long Term Plan
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Waimakariri residents have had their say on the long-term plan (LTP) and given councillors plenty to consider.
A council spokesperson said ‘‘a healthy’’ 336 submissions have been received to the 2024-34 LTP, making 1670 submission points.
The council is due to hold hearings on the submissions on May 8, from 9.30am, in the Ruataniwha Kaiapoi Civic Centre and then in the Oxford Town Hall from 3pm.
A second day of hearings will be held in the council chambers in Rangiora the following day from 1pm.
The council has signalled a rates hike of 8.94% this year, which is thought to be the lowest proposed rates rise in Canterbury.
Mayor Dan Gordon said the council was feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis, while continuing to pay off its earthquake recovery and Mainpower Stadium loans.
The district’s population is projected to grow from about 70,000 to 82,075 by 2034, based on Stats NZ’s high growth scenario.
To support that growth, the council is proposing to spend around $693 million over the next 10 years.
Managing the natural environment, flood resilience, community facilities and transport infrastructure were being consulted on.
Key projects include the proposed Rangiora eastern link road, a draft natural environment strategy, the Rangiora Library extension and expansion plans for Mainpower Oval.
Once the hearings have concluded, the council will resume its LLT deliberations on May 21 and 22, before the final adoption in June.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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