Hamilton: Draft Neighbourhood Amenity Management Plan
Views sought on Draft Neighbourhood Amenity
Management Plan
Public consultation on a draft plan to guide the management of dozens of small Hamilton parks reserves has now opened.
At its October meeting, Hamilton City Council’s Community Services and Environment Committee endorsed the Draft Neighbourhood and Amenity Reserves Management Plan for public consultation.
Under the Reserves Act, the Council must have management plans for all its parks and reserves, and must also consult with the public on those plans while they are in draft form.
The public and interested organisations now have a two-month period in which to provide their comments on the draft plan. That period closes on 13 January 2019.
“The draft plan is a strategic document which outlines proposed management of more than 80 small parks across the city,” says Sean Stirling, one of the Council’s Planners and a member of the Business and Planning team in the Council’s Community Group.
“It demonstrates the Council’s commitment to the community to its management of these parks and reserves on behalf of residents.”
The parks covered by the draft management plan vary in size and significance, but their cumulative size is large, confirming their importance to the city and its residents, Mr Stirling says.
The draft plan does not envisage changes to the current use of the parks, but it’s considered to be a valuable tool for the Council staff who are tasked with the operational management of these areas, as well as members of the public interested in how their smaller reserves will be managed.
An online portal has been created – https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/amenity-reserves – where residents can find an overview of the draft plan, a downloadable version, and also a link to a page where they can make submissions. Submission forms can be picked up from the Council’s main Municipal Building in Civic Square, or from any Hamilton City Libraries branch.
Should hearings on the submissions be required, they will be managed through the Council’s Regulatory and Hearings Committee.
The draft plan reflects the Council’s desire to help build a more attractive and prosperous city.