Matua residents ask for more time

Matua resident Emily Marks is concerned about the about the future of Kings Ave Reserve. Photos and Video: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Matua resident Emily Marks is concerned her community were not given enough options in a Tauranga City Council survey about the future of Kings Ave Reserve.

Starting May 1, council plans to widen the Levers Road kerb, plus install concrete and astroturf pathing through the reserve.

But the original survey sent out in October 2016 by Tauranga City Council only provided two options, explains Emily.

'They didn't provide the other two options of having the footpath sited on the right hand side of the park if entering from Kings Ave, or having no path at all, and keeping it as is.”

She has self-funded her own survey and hit the streets around Kings Ave Reserve with her three children, their bikes and her dog to deliver about 450 letters into mailboxes.

'I phoned council before their survey deadline and communicated that I felt the survey was incomplete and urged them to re-do it. Where was the ‘option three' tick box for people who wish the park to remain the same - without a concrete path?

'Within the mailed survey, public were asked to tick their preferred choice for either option one – a pathway running alongside the playground – this option fits most closely with current desire lines.

'Or option two – a path running around the south side of the reserve. This option retains more open space within the reserve.”

Emily says that in early April, residents received a further letter from council informing them that the path would be 'running through the centre of the green space.”

'As it turns out council are adjusting the entrance to the right hand side corner. As the current central entrance on Kings Ave leads people to cross into the Sadlier's driveway, which obviously comes with risks which can be avoided by repositioning the Reserve's entrance.

'Council listened to the survey and mooted to make the path astroturf beyond the playground, where it will dissect the green space in the lower part of the Reserve.”

Parks and Recreation manager Mark Smith says Tauranga City Council has done a lot of consultation with the local community around this reserve and it is confident they followed a 'robust process”.

'The result of the consultation was that the community overwhelmingly supported putting a path in at Kings Avenue Reserve. We'll be proceeding as planned.”

Nigel Sadlier, who lives opposite the reserve, pays credit to the council for putting out a survey in order to get community feedback.

But he think it may not have been handled as well as it could have been.

'The survey had two options and didn't provide two other options. Emily is asking people to respond and wants to engage council with having more conversation about it.”

While nearby resident Mellanie Hodge agrees, adding: 'Emily is correct”.

'There wasn't a full list of options presented at the time. I would prefer no path, I don't see that there needs to be one. I think sometimes council has a mandate for spending ‘X' amount of money on ‘X' projects.

'And they just go and do it because they've got that money to spend and spend it anyway regardless of what the community may feel about it.

And perhaps the community as a whole have been a bit lax in responding to the initial letters, adds Mellanie.

'I think the overwhelming feeling from most of the people who have got kids particularly is that they'd prefer no path and it would be nice to have the open area where kids kick balls around.

'If there has to be a path, then consideration for where it's going to go. Where the path is actually going to go has changed as well.”

Emily also doesn't believe there was overwhelming support for the path to cut through the centre of the reserve.

She says 450 people were surveyed by council but only 250 people voted. Of the responses received by council, 85 per cent (200 people) were in favour of the current council proposed route.

'That leaves the remaining 200 people who either voted against the path routing through the centre, or who didn't vote, potentially because there was no box to tick for their preferred option.

'Forty-five per cent of residents are in favour of the path whilst 55 per cent of people are not. Perhaps then there is 'overwhelming' evidence to suggest people don't want this path as currently proposed.”

Emily feels that shifting the entrance into the reserve creates a new desire line – most direct route – along the right hand side of Kings Ave Reserve.

'This option will meet the needs of everyone. It is the shortest route, therefore the least expensive.

'It will provide greater access to the playground for people pushing buggies, riding bikes and wheelchairs, and it will retain the wide green space, allowing the continuation of free play for today's children and families to come.”

Emily Marks with her survey at Kings Ave Reserve.

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3 comments

Emily

Posted on 29-04-2017 10:05 | By overit

Good on you.


Emily Marks I applaud you, and reject your being abused.

Posted on 29-04-2017 11:57 | By Murray.Guy

Tauranga City Council insist they have done a great job consulting the community YET the community feels otherwise. This highlights the attitude of the Council, the arrogance, clearly identifying they do not accept that TCC Staff and EMs are the monkeys, the community represent the organ grinder. TCC Staff, a simple apology and "we'll endeavour to consult better", it's not hard!


Well done Emily!

Posted on 29-04-2017 16:09 | By Mackka

I salute you for having the guts to tackle the council. It is a pity most NZ's (including myself) are happy to just sit back and criticise the council when a job is done without going out and doing something concrete about it. Again - well done!! I hope they take notice of you - most of us have given up doing anything about their plans because it is usually a 'done deal' before the public are informed !!


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