Share your voice

Council consulted the community over four weeks in August and September on three possible locations for the new area. Tauhara Park in Rototuna and Resthills Park in Glenview were also considered.

All three parks are already off-leash exercise spaces and have existing infrastructure such as off-street parking and toilets.

We received 1478 public submissions, with a strong concentration of feedback from residents near the three parks.

Tauhara Park and Minogue Park were the most popular community choices with 583 submissions in favour of Tauhara Park and 582 in favour of Minogue Park.

We chose Minogue Park for Hamilton’s first fenced dog exercise area. The new 1ha area can be built further away from neighbours and doesn’t require a resource consent, so construction can start earlier.

Funding of $177,000 for the new pooch play space was approved through the 2018-28 Long-Term Plan. The new area will be designed to blend into the park. It will be planted with natives and will include seats and a doggy water fountain. Rules of use will be clearly displayed.

Construction will start in mid-October and the area should be open in time for summer.

As part of the review of the draft Hamilton Gardens Management Plan, we asked what you thought about a new layout concept for Hamilton Gardens. This was a revision of a concept put to the community in 2019. The changes allow for further development of the Gardens and address issues such as congestion, traffic flow and improving the Gardens’ connection with the river.

We received 875 responses with 84% of respondents in favour of the new concept.

Some people asked to make an oral submission to the Council. You can read more about the Hearings and Engagement Committee meeting and some of the ideas presented by the public here. The committee agenda includes a full report on the community engagement, which identifies common themes such as parking, alternative modes of transport and developing pedestrian access across the river.

The Community Committee will consider the draft Hamilton Gardens Management Plan again later this year, including feedback from the community on the Gardens layout and other aspects of the draft management plan. We will update this page after that meeting.

Earlier this year we asked what you thought of our draft design for an upgrade of Nawton’s much-loved Elliot Park playground and skatepark. We’re extending and improving the skatepark, renewing play equipment and park furniture, and adding a half basketball court and more shade.

We received 115 responses with most positive about the design, especially the addition of a half basketball court. The skate community asked for changes to some of the new skatepark features.

We made some changes to the final design of the skatepark based on your suggestions. We reduced the number of quarter pipes, added new features, including a replica fire hydrant, and adapted others for beginner skaters.

Construction will begin in July so the playground can reopen in time for summer 2020.