Papakura residents are invited to give their ideas on the future management of local parks.
Consultation to help shape a draft Papakura Local Parks Management Plan is open now and runs until 11 November.
Papakura Local Board has approved public notification of the intent to prepare a plan for all local parks and reserves, including inviting written suggestions.
The plan will set a framework for the use, protection, and development of local parks.
Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole says it’s important people get involved because local parks are critical to neighbourhoods.
“This consultation is all about what people want from their parks. Various age groups might have different needs, we expect accessibility issues to be raised, and it might be that our ethnic communities would like things that reflect their needs or are drawn from their cultures in a way we have seen with Māori play elements.”
The plan is still some way from being finalised, with consultation critical to the process. After feedback is analysed, a draft plan can be prepared.
The board is responsible for parks within Papakura it has decision-making authority over, while in others it has only an advocacy role – where it can put forward suggestions, notably legal roads and drainage reserves with open space function.
Land in scope includes park land for which the board has decision-making under both the Reserves Act and Local Government Act, but excludes open space not owned or managed by Auckland Council, and regional parks.
The board has decision-making over about 140 parks and reserves, 11 with existing management plans, all of them 10 years old or more, and to be superseded by the new plan.
It is anticipated a draft plan will be available for public consultation in early or mid-2025.
Have Your Say here.
