Plans for dog park in Kerikeri back to the drafting board

The Far North District Council has actually pressed “paws” on an undesirable dog park proposition in Kerikeri while it examines other areas.

After substantial public assessment on 2 prepare for a devoted, off-leash dog park at
a council reserve on Waitotara Drive in Waipapa near SH10, the council is now examining more alternatives.

Deputy mayor Kelly Stratford said since of “the zoning of the land” at Waitotara Drive, the council would require to obtain resource permission for the dog park, which “would waste a lot of money”.

“The community board voted to look for a new location because that location wasn’t suitable.

“The community that lived there were also opposed.”

Last November, the council asked the general public for input on 2 alternatives at the suggested website at the end of Waitotara Drive.

Option 1 – approximated to cost around $130,000 – covered minimum requirements such as paths, seating, and different locations for little and big dogs along with a mixed-size dog location.

Option 2 – the cost of which was to be based on the study results – consisted of bonus seen in popular dog parks throughout the nation such as a dexterity location, dog wash station, boardwalk, shaded locations, and drinking water fountains for dogs and their owners.

Dog supporters spoken with by the Northern Advocate said the website at Waitotara Drive was too far from the centre of town, where numerous retired people reside in numerous retirement towns, rest houses, and gated neighborhoods.

A council spokesperson said the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board advised staff to examine alternative areas for the dog park.

“Once that investigation is completed, the issue will go back to the community board to make its recommendations to the council on how to proceed with this proposal.”

It was just the area of the park staff had actually been asked to examine, not the draft style alternatives, the spokesperson said.

Apart from the job being pressed out up until next year, it appears the quantity of financing has actually reduced.

Initially, $72,000 was allocated the park from the 2021/31 Long-Term Plan.

The present budget plan for the proposed dog park is $68,000, the council spokesperson said, and would come out of the next budgeting rounds for the Long-Term Plan in April next year.

“Depending on the final location selected, more funding may be required.”

Stratford suggested the council reserve on Aranga Rd may be on the cards.

“It’s a small dog exercise park which may meet the needs of Kerikeri’s CBD residents that don’t drive and need a place to walk from home or their retirement village,” she said.

“That site, though it costs more than is budgeted for, we know volunteers would help out as a community project.”

Kerikeri dog lover AnnMaree Mills, who has actually been lobbying for a main Kerikeri dog park for twenty years, said she was “absolutely pro” the Aranga area.

“I have the support, and I paid for the drawings.

“The retirees around the streets, they don’t want to drive to Waipapa or Roland’s Wood, they just want to go for a potter.

“It’s in town and it already has five car parks…it’s practical because it’s got pedestrian linkage already there.

“There are a lot of dogs in that area.”

However, Mills said she was worried about the hold-ups.

“There’s too much consultation and it nearly lost momentum; my concern is how much money has been wasted on Waitotara?”

Stratford said there was absolutely nothing to stop locals throughout the Far North “from driving and delivering a dog park themselves”.

“There’s nothing to stop a community group coming up with a plan and applying for permission with the community board in their area – as long as it’s done to health and safety regulations.”