Steve Macknight, who grew up in St Leonards and now lives there with his family, outlined plans for a waterside community space during the public forum of last week’s West Harbour Community Board meeting.
Joining board members via video conference, Mr Macknight said the work to extend the West Harbour shared pathway and SH88 upgrade was great, but its associated barriers and fencing could block access to the water.
"I remember swimming and playing in the harbour as a kid, and I would really like families to continue to have that chance."
Mr Macknight has his sights set on a sheltered, sunny corner of the lagoon at St Leonards, which he believes could be easily upgraded into a small park with a sandy "beach".
The proposal also includes a small "wharf" and floating deck for added amenity value.
Mr Macknight told the board he had spoken to local government and government agencies about the concept, and had received positive feedback.
"If I can get the right permissions to go ahead, I’m hopeful that the local community will get behind the project," he said.
"It’s something that could be done through community working bees, I’m sure."
The land at the lagoon’s edge is owned by KiwiRail and the area where Mr Macknight would like a pocket park to go is beside where a new section of the shared path will be built.
"I think it’s a good time to be thinking about a project like this, while the area is being developed," he said.
In answer to questions from the community board, Mr Macknight said he would be happy to drive the project forward, and that it would not add to the cost of the shared path project.
Board chairwoman Francisca Griffin told the board she had visited the site with Mr Macknight and his proposal looked "do-able".
Contacted by The Star, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency senior project manager Jason Forbes said the proposed park site was very close to where the section of shared path will be.
"As we build that section, we will need to remove vegetation and re-grade the area, and the finished path will be elevated," Mr Forbes said.
This might benefit Mr Macknight’s proposal, although the concept would require a raft of consents and approvals, he said.
During last Wednesday’s online meeting, the West Harbour Community Board also discussed decals and signs that were being created for the city’s shared paths by council, and the positive effect they were having on path users’ behaviour.
The board accepted the nomination of Kristina Goldsmith to the position of board representative on the Keep Dunedin Beautiful committee, replacing Duncan Eddy in the role.
Board deputy chair Trevor Johnson raised the issue of excess vegetation and the poor condition of some pavements around the West Harbour area and, after discussion, agreed to visit areas of concern with council staff.
The board also discussed plans to install information plaques around the Port Chalmers area, in accordance with the wishes of the late board member Jan Tucker.
