Residents in Ballintoy Drive in Welcome Bay are calling for the council to move forward a proposed date for a new playground.
Currently the subdivision, which is completely sold as it stands, is waiting for an area where children and families can enjoy time together.
Residents in Ballintoy Drive are wanting a park for their children. Photo: Bruce Barnard.
Tauranga City Council was given land by the subdivision developers a year ago, but residents have been told the budget spend on the park hasn't been planned until 2019.
The land was previously used as a dumping ground for rubbish, something council had to pay to remove, until residents suggested erecting signs and bollards in the area.
'Obviously this is saddening for us that have been in the subdivision from the start and whose children are growing up fast. My eldest son will be 14 by the time the park goes in and he's lived there since he was five,” says resident Michelle Beaumont.
'The other issue is the fact that we live on a very dangerous slope and the kids are playing on the road/driveways on this slope. It's dangerous, but sadly they have nowhere else to go.”
The nearest park is more than 2.5kms away and down a very steep hill.
In an effort to get the 2019, date brought forward, residents have formed a group and submitted a proposal to council.
'The general consensus in the subdivision is that we would love to see a communal barbecue installed to continue to encourage a strong sense of community in the subdivision, trees and shrubs so that they can start to actually get established, and obviously a flat area at the top for ball games,” says Michelle.
'Because the strip of land is one big hill, on one side of the hill a snakes and ladders park would be an awesome use of space.
'We definitely feel very hard done by in our subdivision. We have been paying our rates the same as everyone else, but we have to literally get in the car to get to the nearest park facility,” says Michelle.
'Take a drive around every new subdivision in Tauranga and there are parks placed frequently around the place, our area seems to have been neglected by the council and with the area not budgeted for until 2019, clearly not a priority.”
6 comments
welcome bay
Posted on 01-02-2016 11:40 | By surfsup
It should be clear to all readers that Welcome Bay is poorly serviced. The recent stories re the local tennis club and now the above story would indicate that the area is either poorly served by the council in general or the local councilor, either way some hard questions need to be asked. The council is being asked to pour more money into the Tauranga Hockey assoc, has committed funds to the new sporting fields at Bethlehem yet, can give no commitment to Welcome Bay. So here is a challenge for Bill Grainger and Kelvin Clout, tell the area what you intend to do. please don't make the area wait until elections come round, which is normally the only time we either see or hear from you.
Plant
Posted on 01-02-2016 15:35 | By Capt_Kaveman
Trees in the right place be a good start, and natives not the crap the city is already full of
What nonsense
Posted on 01-02-2016 16:52 | By BullShtAlert
There are plenty of parks in Welcome Bay area. How many more are needed because each park costs not only buy but to maintain. An existing park 2 kms away provides good exercise getting there and back and helps reduce the obesity epidemic.
THE FORGOTTEN SUBURB
Posted on 01-02-2016 18:57 | By Colleen Spiro
Welcome Bay is the forgotten suburb....always has been..it has the same LIMITED services it had 30 years ago
what nonsense
Posted on 02-02-2016 10:45 | By surfsup
Obviously the inner workings of the councils parks division is not one of bullshtalert strong points. The council maintains all the reserves that playgrounds are on, subdivisions in Bethlehem,Ohauti which are relatively new have playgrounds in them as a means of not only promoting healthy living for the children, but a way of developing good neighbourhoods. As far as I'm aware welcome bay does not have an obesity epidemic but next time I'm out and about I will have a closer look, in the meantime lets all think positive thoughts and maybe just maybe we may even here from our local councilors.
Too Easy
Posted on 02-02-2016 13:14 | By chaffcharlie
Seem silly to have a clear piece of land and not do anything with it. I am sure all residents will appreciate having a playground sorted asap to keep the kids outside over the summer days in a safe play area instead of on the road.
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