"Option 3" - a counter proposal

Dog Park Relocation

During 'pre-consultation engagement' we made several suggestions for where a new Dog Park could be established that would enable the current space to be utilised for a Wheels Hub.  Some of these suggestions appear on pages 58&59 of the Analysis - Part B.  However, they have said that no viable alternate location exists, so the Dog Park will stay where it is.  We disagree.

During pre-consultation engagement, Field 2 (bounded by Walworth Road, the pavilion/car park and the cage) was proposed as an alternate location.  It was ruled out by officers as they said the space was needed for sports fields.  Therefore it does not appear in the options analysis document.  

In the published draft plan this area has been re-allocated to initiatives 4, 6, & 8 which are not sports fields.  Therefore we believe this option was incorrectly excluded from consultation and advocate for field 2 to be the new location for the Dog Park (11).

The current dog park fenced area is 5000 sqm.  It includes a 200m unsealed path enclosing an area of 2600sqm.  It also contains a wetland area which reduces the usable dog park space to around 4000sqm.

The part of field 2 west of proposed path 15 is around 4500sqm.  It is already fenced on 3 sides.  It is right next to the public toilets in the pavilion and an existing 31 space car park (which is bigger than the Whitehead Road car park). The ground condition on field 2 is much better than the current dog park.

This meets the assessment criteria - equivalent size to current site, parking and toilets - and should be selected as the preferred location for a future move.

Other objections to moving the dog park have been a concern that it won't be re-established elsewhere before access to the current site is removed, and the cost of the move.  To address these concerns, we propose that the cost of fencing and creation of a path be covered by the pump track project, and the pump track construction does not start before the new location has been fenced and is available for dog use.

Connections

It will be a while before the dog park could be moved.  Therefore to help mitigate conflict from off leash dogs entering the BMX site we propose a new gate be established on the north side of the dog park and a track constructed (15a) to the south west of the top field, allowing dog park users to bypass coming into the BMX site. The west gate between the dog park and BMX site should then be permanently closed.

As part of the BMX site enhancements we also propose a connecting track (15b) above the west of the BMX site from the Whitehead Rd car park to field 1.

Regional Scale Pump track

The Council's analysis of pump tracks is on pages 54 & 55 of the Analysis Part B document and identifies a lack of provision in the western ward.  They indicate that a Regional scale track is not required because events can be held on smaller tracks, such as the 2024 Pump Track Nationals at Havelock North.  

Events are only a minor consideration on the scale of track.  Primary considerations are having enough space for the likely usage and the ability to have a variety of features to enable skill progression.  Therefore we are continuing to advocate for "Option 3" of a multi-loop regional scale facility east of the BMX track (5).

Dirt Jumps

Council analysis (p89) indicates that dirt jumps will be more highly utilised if located at Makara Peak bike park.  We disagree.  The skills area at Makara Peak is great, but it requires a climb up Koru track; so will only be utilised by those with geared bikes and not by those on single-speed dirt jumpers or BMXs or by younger kids who struggle with the climb.  A series of progressive dirt jump lines (5b) in Ian Galloway Park, next to Whitehead Road car park behind the skate ramps, will be much more accessible and therefore more likely to be highly used than those half way up Makara.

BMX enhancements

Capital BMX club would like to host a major BMX NZ event (North Island Titles or National Championships). Lack of track side spectator space has been identified as a key barrier to being awarded hosting rights.  As part of pre-consultation engagement, Capital proposed a number of enhancements to be included in the masterplan - extension of the banks behind berms 1 & 3 and alongside straight 1 (10); a walkway to the top field (15b); track lighting; shared club rooms (13), a reconfiguration of the shipping containers and asphalting of the accessway.  We are flagging these points as missing from the draft plan and would like to see them included in the final plan.

Play Space

The draft plan asks for preference between locating a play space near the sports fields (option 1), or behind the skate ramps (option 2).  We advocate for an "option 3" play space (4) at the south end of where the current dog park is on the basis that the dog park can be relocated.

Community Facilities

A 'May Support in the Future' initiative is listed as a Review of Community Facilities to ensure they are fit for purpose.  The BMX club operates out of several shipping containers.  Other clubs around the country have club rooms with kitchen facilities that enable them to run a cafe service.  The mini-coffee bar across Whitehead Road was a successful facility before it moved away.  We advocate for a shared club rooms (13) for BMX, Skate, Dirt Jump and Pump track users as part of this future review.

Car Parking

The current Whitehead Road car park is 22 spaces, two of which are reserved as accessible spaces.  It is often congested, and will only become more so if the developments in Southern Ian Galloway Park proceed.  We believe that the car park should be extended east to the boundary of the IGP site as part of the entrance improvements.