Tauranga City Council's annual plan submission process begins today with Sydenham Park one of the major issues concerning citizens.
The park is a reserve with many different kauri tree species on it that was gifted to the council in a will on condition it be a botanical park open to the public.
Belly dancers at the Mothers' Day picnic in Sydenham Park. Protection of the venue for such activity is among the hopes of the many submissions made in the city council's annual plan process. Photo: Colours of Life Photography.
The council has received more than 80 submissions on its proposal to stop paying maintenance on the property, in effect ending its tenure of it.
Among those being heard over the next few days is a joint submission by Jim Pringle and Noel Peterson.
They recommend the park be run by a council appointed trust, with the council also paying for the trust's expenses for the first few years while it administers a way forward with community support.
Based on his experience with the Sanctuary Park Trust at Pyes Pa, Jim Pringle says that over 4-5 years that trust obtained funding from a range of sources which developed the park without any money from the trust.
'Within another five years and the cost of some funding the cost of some nominal finding of trustees positions could be return to the council in kind by advantages and asset values that this park would achieve for the community and the city,” says Jim in his submission.
Frank Sydenham bequeathed the 3ha of Sydenham Park land on condition it be maintained as a botanical park. The council has been managing the property since 2006.
The land remains owned by the Frank Sydenham estate.
The park contains what arborists say is a world class collection of kauri trees donated by Graham and Mavis Dyer.
The collection contains 14 of the 21 known species of which the New Zealand kauri, Agathis Australis is only one. The early plantings are now eight metres tall, with the newer plantings about two metres.
Annual plan submissions are being heard today through to Wednesday.
17 comments
YEAH WELL THAT WILL BE INTERESTING
Posted on 09-05-2011 12:48 | By DRONE
Just another day in the office shuffling paper around I guess, the result is already decided but one must wander through the motions so as the plonkers think that there is some point to it all I guess hoo hum!
Mr Sydenhams wishes
Posted on 09-05-2011 15:27 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
"The original intention of the trust deed was that the land would be used for education." this is a quote from the handout given at a public meeting. I've heard many times that Mr Sydenham wanted it to be used for education through the university. Could this be clarified? I don't think the intention was to give it to the city council. Ideal place for small university and student accommodation which would seem to be more in line with the true wishes of the benefactor.
we only want start up funding
Posted on 09-05-2011 15:55 | By al pillocksworth
Yeah right. How many times do you hear people wanting council (ratepayers) to fund just the first few years?
Hold on - not another park
Posted on 09-05-2011 16:44 | By Pragmatic
If the locals want the park let them contribute towards the development cost and the anuual maintenance cost. What's wrong with the 150 acre Carmichael Reserve just down the road and the Lees Road Reserve adjacent to the Sydenham Park. How about affordable housing for older folk who can't afford the proposed 10.4% increase in Council rates.
Mothers Day in the park
Posted on 09-05-2011 20:46 | By GrassRoots
The community are ready and willing to raise funds for this park. The Mothers Day event held in the park had several free performances and attracted hundreds of locals with Mums being the centre of attention (unfortunately not mentioned in the article). Money can't be raised until a new trust is established. This event was an example of this sites potential. A large event couldn't be hosted in Lees Park or Carmichael Reserve. It annoys me that people can suggest Brookfield residents don't deserve this park or that ratepayers don't want to pay $5,000-$10,000 per year for mowing and maintenance (that's right, turns out its not $30,000 as originally claimed). Since the comments here are obviously from concerned Tauranga residents can I suggest we remove the nearest park to your home in order to relieve ratepayer burden also? No, I didn't think so. I wouldn't want that to happen either. I don't even live in Brookfield, but I care about Tauranga green spaces for all residents and future generations to enjoy. Call me crazy.
move the trees now !
Posted on 09-05-2011 21:18 | By onthelevel
Before they (the trees) get to big move them. I moved a twenty three tonne tree once and its still looks great. The Carmichael reserve is the right place for these types of trees, just look at the size of tane mahutu up north. Let the land go back to the sydenham estate maybe they will develop house's there being close to supermarket etc, suits humans not trees !
Posted on 10-05-2011 00:54 | By GrassRoots
@ onthelevel- almost every park in Tauranga is a prime subdivision site. Are you suggesting we should carve them all up or just the ones in suburbs you don't live in? Being close to a shopping centre actually makes it a perfect site for the humans to relax and enjoy that stuff called nature that birds and insects live in. Here's an idea, lets pay for the kauri trees to be relocated, close the park that was gifted to the city and then buy another block of land for a park in 15 years for $20 million to cater for the increased local population and infill housing. Oh dear.
@ GRASSROOTS
Posted on 10-05-2011 07:53 | By DRONE
The fact is Sir, which I would be more than happy that the nearest park to me goes west, sell it and release the RATEPAYERS from the burden of the annual cost, Graham Park is of little use to anyone, and it even has a transformer and so on at one end. A few every so often fire a few arrows from one side to the other, the cost of mowing and related costs must be way more than Sydenham Park. None of this is about Sydenham Park; it is about diversion from the rest of the annual plan and the 'LARGE' mess within including the rates hike.
Pay for it yourselves!
Posted on 10-05-2011 09:13 | By monty111
Why do these people who live near and take advantage of this park think that the ratepayer should foot the bill? They should form a trust between themselves to pay the annual fees rather than whinge about it.
yes to infill housing or
Posted on 10-05-2011 11:15 | By onthelevel
Grassroots if you and yours want it as a park then you and yours pay for it. start fundraising rite now don,t leave it up to others, cash your home in move to camp ground and "invest"your money in the park. You want it you pay and be thankfull others provide the land.don't just bleat, do something and stop expecting others to do it for you. Am well aware of "stuff"as you put it. The park has been there for quite a while already, you tell me how many shoppers go there after spending up large to relax and interact with the insects.or is it just you. Carmichael reserve is just fine and plenty of insects there too. may even need repelent too.get real and have a good day.
Low cost housing
Posted on 10-05-2011 12:44 | By WARTS N ALL
That is eduction, shows them how it is and how it is done, no education results in this ....
@ Drone
Posted on 10-05-2011 22:14 | By GrassRoots
I hear your point and also have issues with the rates hike and city planning. As you say Sydenham Park maintenance is peanuts really, especially when compared to the huge council projects constantly starting at price tags of $10-$40 million. But look at some of these other comments, you described plonkers? maybe so. If the parks future is already decided would you care to share? Diversion- maybe, at risk of being lost- supposedly, an asset to our city- definitely. I for one have been active in supporting this property, including my time and resources. Cheer up, some of us are willing to make an effort for the things we want to see happen in our city :-)
SELL EVERYTHING
Posted on 11-05-2011 18:18 | By WARTS N ALL
That is all we can do now, then turn off the lights and leave.
We need parks and green space
Posted on 11-05-2011 19:36 | By Hebegeebies
This park is just fine. Council don't and won't ever own it because of the suspicion all TCC want to do is get their hands on it and flog it off. The funds would then be used for another of TCC harebrain schemes.Well Mr Sydenham was good enough to leave the land to the community for specific purposes, it has cost Tauranga nothing so as far as we can let's honour this generous benefactors wishes.Residents who want it as a park set up a Charitable Trust to maintain the park.TCC must however initially provide some pin money for a new ride on mower the necessary implements and say $2000 a year for fuel.After that(apart from annual fuel allowance) its up to residents to maintain & nurture the Park and if they don't then the writing is on the wall.This is a fair solution which should appease both sides.
go the shoppers
Posted on 11-05-2011 22:46 | By Pragmatic
I pass the Sydenham reserve twice a day and have yet to see any one using it as a playground - what a laugh
ironic mess
Posted on 13-05-2011 12:19 | By YABBA DABBA DO
TCC can spend up on luxeries like TISCE/Baypark Arena/TECT baypark Arena (what will it be tomorrow who knows, will there be room on the letterhead? How mush did that cost?) at some $45 million and there are still contracts falling out onto the market all over the place so heading easily for $50 million and $7-8 million a year in accumulating losses. Yet there is not a spare $10,000 for Syndeham Park and some special Kauri trees = NZ natives. It is indeed a strange world.
Landgrabbers moneysuckers & F #&$wits
Posted on 14-05-2011 11:45 | By Investigator
If residents want the Park to work it will with a bit of blood sweat and tears.Accept for minor funding keep the Guardian Trust and TCC ogres away from the place.You don't have to see hordes of people in the Park the fact it is there to use and look at when required is enough in itself. We all need green space from time to time who wants concrete jungles you must have visual relief from these.
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