Reserve proposal raises concern

A proposal to sell a Department of Conservation reserve in Waikouaiti has aroused concern in the town. Waitati contractor George Terry wants to buy the land, administered by the Dunedin City Council, to establish a depot.

A report to the Dunedin City Council community development committee recommended the DCC approve the surrender of its appointment to manage and control the McGregor St reserve.

The reserve is near the site of the former Waikouaiti railway station and just northeast of the former Waikouaiti Post Office.

Surrendering the DCC appointment would allow the reserve to be returned to the Department of Conservation.

The Department of Conservation had been approached by Mr Terry, who was interested in buying the land for use as a depot.

The Waikouaiti-Coast Community Board meeting held at Waitati recently voted to delay the decision on revoking the reserve status until the community had been consulted and the board had received a report.

The Hawksbury Lagoon committee was concerned that nothing be done to the McGregor St reserve land that was detrimental to Post Office Creek, which flows beside the reserve and into the lagoon, Dunedin city councillor for the Waikouaiti ward, Cr Andrew Noone said this week.

He was sure of "a compromise down the track".

Consultation with the community would be a good opportunity to get all the parties together, he said.

Shirley McKewen, secretary of the Hawksbury Lagoon committee, speaking personally, this week said the community needed to be proactive in decisions about the future use of reserve land.

She welcomed the opportunity for consultation about the McGregor St reserve land and said Waikouaiti people should be heard in respect of a proposed DCC review of other reserves around the town.

 

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