Proposed gun sports park raises alarm bells in rural Canterbury

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

A small community fears a proposed gun sports park could ruin their rural outlook in North Canterbury.

Loburn resident Marie Jones said locals are concerned the proposed airsoft sports facility will devalue their properties and impact the rural setting.

However, the director of the company behind the park says it's a family sport and could actually increase local house values.

Christchurch-based Arena Ltd has applied to the Waimakariri District Council for a resource consent to establish an airsoft sports and recreation activity park on Fishers Rd, near Loburn.

Similar to paintball, the sport uses airsoft pellets instead of bullets.

Jones said she found out about the proposal after a neighbour, who runs a business in Rangiora, overheard a conversation and then contacted the council.

The neighbours got together last week, fearing the consent could be approved without being notified.

The council had been trying to sell a 6.5-hectare block for sometime, before subdividing the property, with Arena Ltd buying 4ha.

Residents were concerned about the fire risk from the property, where the spraying noxious weeds has not been kept up, Jones said.

‘‘As neighbours we have phoned the council at least twice a year to do something.

‘‘It is always a danger waiting to happen.’’

The Loburn community was devastated by a major fire in the district in January.

Fishers Rd is narrow and not designed to take increased traffic and has a blind rise just before the property, she said.

A Waimakariri District Council spokesperson confirmed a resource consent application has been received to operate an airsoft sports facility at Loburn.

The application is on hold while the council seeks further information from the applicant.

Once the information has been received, the council will process the application as either a non-notified, limited notified or publicly notified consent.

Arena Ltd director Ken Yep said the company has been operating an airsoft sports facility near Christchurch since 2011.

‘‘We are trying to replicate it in more of a natural forest setting.’’

He said he was keen to preserve the natural forestry on the site, and was working to clear away the noxious weeds.

Arena Ltd was working with council planners and had brought in engineers to assess the likely noise levels and was planning to design fire breaks.

Yep said the park would mainly be open in the weekends, with some private groups onsite during the week.

‘‘I don’t think it will drop their property values at all and I think it will increase their values.

‘‘It is gun related, but it is a proper sport and everyone enjoys it and we get a lot of young people and families coming out.

‘‘We are not some weird group which causes all sorts of problems.’’

Yep said he would be happy to meet with residents to address their concerns.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.