Camp’s fate to be decided today

A Southern council may soon be faced with a costly climbdown, depending on the outcome of a meeting this afternoon.

The Clutha District Council infrastructure strategy and operations committee meets in Balclutha today and, among other matters, will discuss community feedback and proposed amendments to the Milton reserve management plan.

The plan addresses future management of five reserves in Milton.

However, the town’s Taylor Park became a key focus of concern for residents in September last year, after the council placed the first four of a planned 10 camp cabins on the park’s green space, adjoining the existing motor camp.

During consultation on the plan, which will be presented to the committee today, residents were asked what they would like to see happen to the existing motor camp and new cabins.

Almost 97% of respondents said they would like to see the cabins removed altogether, or moved to another location in the park.

In regard to the campground, 74% said they would like to see the camp return to its previous footprint of 3500sq m, which would entail the removal of the cabins altogether, at the council’s expense.

Of 180 submissions received on the question, 22% said they would like to expand the campground to include the adjoining swimming pool area and its amenity block, expanding the facility to 8700sq m.

This option would require relocation of the current, and any future, cabins.

Four percent of respondents favoured also using part of the green-space area, providing for a campground of 10,400sq m.

The placement of the cabins — which were built at cost by prisoners at the nearby Otago Corrections Facility — has polarised residents during the past six months.

The unserviced, self-contained single or double-occupancy cabins occupy about 15% of the park’s green space.

Those supporting the project have highlighted the need for additional accommodation to cater for those using the recently completed Clutha Gold Rail Trail extension.

However, a majority of residents appear unhappy with the reduction of the town’s main green park space, which is also used for Fire and Emergency New Zealand competitions.

Councillors at today’s meeting will be asked to decide on the park’s future.

Options provided in the report include "not [providing] for a campground at Taylor Park" due to insufficient financial sustainability without expansion.

Other options include expanding into the swimming pool and green-space areas.

The report provides no details regarding a possible fate for the cabins, were they to be removed.

richard.davison@odt.co.nz