A MUCH-loved public park will be kept as open space, after an attempt to build on the land was thwarted by locals and the Howick Community Board.
The reserve, at 51R Gosford Dr in Highland Park, was in the sights of an early childhood education group, hoping to build a new centre (Times, September 20).
The Puna O Te Aronga (spring of learning) group has been in negotiations with the Manukau City Council and Ministry of Education, in a bid to expand services and move from its present Keall House location.
At a meeting of the Howick Community Board this week, well attended by the reserve’s neighbours and nearby residents, concerns were raised over the loss of public open space.
The board declined the application for site allocation, on the grounds that the reserve is best used as a local neighbourhood park.
New board chairman Jim Donald told the Times there was overwhelming support for the park from residents.
“We’re pretty short of open space in Howick. I know we’ve got a number of buildings on reserves, but I don’t think we should be scattering everything around our community,” says Mr Donald.
“We should try and confine it to some area and make the village work.”
The application has frustrated some board members and locals, after experiencing the same situation a few years ago.
At that time it was a local theatre group expressing its desire to build on the land, which is zoned as Public Open Space four. The designation allows for some construction of community facilities.
To that end the board recommended the designation be changed to Public Open Space two, meaning no such buildings can be erected in the future.
Mr Donald and Howick city councillor Jami-Lee Ross are unsure as to why the change wasn’t made after the last application.
“But if we don’t change it now another group will come up in the future,” Mr Donald says.
Mr Ross says residents are pleased the park will be kept as it is.
“It should’ve been rezoned after the youth theatre issue. It wasn’t and now we have to do that so the community doesn’t have to go through this process again,” says Mr Ross.
“They should not have to collect hundreds of signatures to protect their park. The council should be protecting it.
“Zone two is zoning that best suits neighbourhood parks and we feel it’s the best zoning for Gosford Park.”
It’s expected to take some time to make the change, so the community board also recommends a moratorium be placed on site applications to avoid any potential conflict.
“I don’t think there would be any opposition from councillors,” Mr Ross says. “Who really wants to take open green space away from the local community?
“The council has a strong backing from councillors to keep green space in the city.”
The board’s resolutions will now be considered and by the council’s policy and activities committee.
