Waipā District Council will readvertise a proposal to revoke the reserve status of Arthur Patterson Reserve in Te Awamutu.
Arthur Patterson Reserve
Council projects specialist Andrew Don faced a barrage of questions from Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board member on the proposal at the May meeting, including the number of submissions the council had received.
Don said the council had received no feedback on the proposal to revoke Eden Avenue reserve status and dispose of the 2100 square metre land reserve in Eden Avenue on the southern side of the town.
“It went into the Cambridge paper rather than the Te Awamutu paper,” he said. “We will have to readvertise it and extend the deadline for submissions.”
The council had also written to seven or eight adjoining landowners.
In a report to the community board, Don said the site was considered surplus to requirements, and staff are progressing a plan to revoke its reserve status and subsequently dispose of the land.
“The people I have spoken to in the area would not like it revoked,” board member Sally Whitaker said.
“It’s a nice place to go and sit for health and wellbeing. It’s a place where you can do roly-polies down the hill.”
The reserved also included two mature walnut trees which were popular with residents, Whitaker said.
Jill Taylor
Fellow board member Jill Taylor said at least three of the seven residents who lived next to the park objected to the plans.
Board chair Ange Holt was concerned that the council could be required to create a reserve elsewhere.
“We are not going to get a lot for it, and we could be forced to buy something twice as much,” she said.
She asked Don how much the council planned to spend on the disposal process.
“I am not able to talk about the finances,” Don said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to be discussed in a public forum.”
Ange Holt
His report said Arthur Patterson was a long-serving deputy mayor and dedicated member of the Te Awamutu community.
Frontier Town – A History of Te Awamutu 1884-1984 – notes AL Patterson was a Te Awamutu Brough Councillors from 1968.
“Staff remain in regular contact with Mr Patterson’s descendants to keep them informed and to identify an appropriate way to continue recognising his contribution to the community.
“Initial consultation with mana whenua and iwi was carried out through Ngā Iwi Tōpū o Waipā. Staff shared an overview of the property and the proposal and requested feedback. Several groups expressed interest in the land.”
The Department of Conservation has identified five iwi authorities that must be formally consulted.
“This process is currently underway. Once the public submission period has closed, staff will compile and assess all feedback and objections. A summary report will be presented to council, who will then determine whether to apply to DOC for the reserve status to be formally revoked.”
The board voted to make a submission opposing the revocation.
See: Reserve could be used for housing
Arthur Patterson Reserve
