Council seeks opinions on Hagley Park and Botanic Gardens

7 August 2004

Community consultation starts today on two Christchurch icons – Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens.

Between now and 8 October the Christchurch City Council will be seeking public comment on issues affecting the Park and Gardens as it works to improve and better manage these cherished parts of the city.

Following consultation with the community the Council will review the Hagley Park Management Plan and produce a draft long term master plan for the Gardens.

After a number of submissions during the Council’s Annual Plan process on the Gardens and investigative work by staff, the Council this year budgeted for a total of $10.36 million to make improvements at the Gardens including the construction of a new information centre, staff facilities and greenhouses.  This is the first time a significant sum of money has been allocated to the Gardens in recognition of its importance as one of New Zealand’s major botanic gardens and the fact that it attracts about 1.2 million visitors each year, according to  Gardens operational manager Jeremy Hawker said.

In Hagley Park, Council staff are looking at ways the area can be improved and managed better as part of updating the Hagley Park Management Plan, which was last reviewed in 1991.  The Council is required to keep this plan under continuous review under the Reserves Act 1977.

Safe access to the park, its future use and aging trees are among the issues being considered, along with parking and traffic matters around the park.

Public meetings to explain more about the consultation and offer people an opportunity to give their views will be held on Thursday 12 August, 7.30pm-9pm and Monday 16 August, 12.15pm-1.45pm at the Christchurch Netball Centre.

Further information about the consultation is available on the Council’s website www.ccc.govt.nz  and from libraries, service centres, Civic Offices and the Botanic Gardens information centre. Submissions on the consultation can be made through the Council’s Have Your Say website www.ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay or on postal submission forms available from the above venues.

After all opinions have been considered, a draft updated Hagley Park Management Plan and a long term master plan for the Gardens (including a design and location for the new information centre) will be made available for public comment in mid 2005.

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