Major changes for Memorial Park plan following feedback
The long-awaited update to the Memorial Park draft concept plan was presented to the Te Awamutu Community Board on Tuesday evening, with significant changes based on community feedback.
Waipā District Council staff have recommended a number of changes to the plan based on feedback from the record 517 submissions received during the extended 8 week consultation in May last year.
Gone are the proposals to remove or relocate some memorial features within the cherished park and the much-loved pond will remain - albeit at a third of its size - in an effort to improve water quality concerns.
Waipā District Council’s reserves planner Tofeeq Ahmed said the draft plan received support for some concepts, but drew strong opposition for others.
“Our community gave us a very clear idea of what they would like to see happen, which included retaining and restoring all memorial features, in particular the bridge crossing the Mangaohoi Stream, keeping vehicle access and carparking within the park and seeing an improved maintenance routine moving forward.
“They also expressed support for the restoration of the Mangaohoi and Mangapiko streams and puna, creation of a gathering place at the stream confluence, new educational and wayfinding signage and more accessible pathways for walkers and cyclists.”
Following the feedback, staff have worked with elected members and representatives from the community board to workshop options to achieve a balance between mana whenua aspirations and community desires.
Community services manager Sally Sheedy said the updated plan is a good balance of both.
“I think the new concept to retain one third of the pond and create wetlands between the pond and the Mangaohoi Stream will achieve mana whenua and Council aspirations to improve water quality while also leaving a lovely space for people to enjoy.”
“I expect the new and improved plan will certainly create a wonderful legacy for our community for years to come, one that we can all be proud of.”
Other changes to the initial plan include retaining one-way vehicle access through the park with an adjacent cycleway, keeping the Mutu Street gateway entrance, replacing the existing ageing playground with a standard playground and developing a new māra hūpara play trail on the other side of the Mangaohoi Stream.
Low rainfall, stream bank erosion and poor water quality have plagued the park in recent years, drawing criticism from the community for a perceived lack of maintenance of the ageing assets.
As such, the need to develop a concept plan for the park was identified by Council in 2018, aimed to identify, protect, restore and enhance the values associated with the park and provide a coordinated and staged approach moving forward.
Consultants Boffa Miskell and Council staff, in partnership with mana whenua, developed the initial draft plan based on input from the Te Awamutu Community Board, Te Awamutu Netball Association, the Returned and Services’ Association, Strategic Planning and Policy Committee and historic reports.
Community feedback on the draft concept plan was received during an extended 8 week consultation period due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The draft concept plan will now be presented to Council’s Strategic Planning & Policy Committee meeting in April.
