Traffic

The intersection of SH5 and Shaw Road is very dangerous. The locals know this intersection all too well. During the summer months when there is an increase of Eskdale Park use and SH5 traffic it’s a miracle that there has not been a fatality. Additionally, there is already a problem with vehicles missing the turnoff into the park and speed past the Hukarere Girls School only then to speed around the Shaw Road cul-de-sac. During busy times and the summer months there is an increase in traffic though the bottleneck single lane from Shaw Road to the Eskdale Park entrance. With cars often speeding through the lane on their way into the park. This hazard already exists for Shaw Road residents and others who use the road as a way to walk into the park.

Park use

We do not believe the plan presented reflects HDC Reserve Management Plans under the Reserves Act 1977. Under the Heading 3.0 NATURAL VALUES and subheading 3.2 Landscape.

We are having trouble believing that this plan was the vison of Thomas Clark whom donated this land to be used as natural green space country park for the community.

The Eskdale Park is used year around by many groups of people and families including a large number of local residents. The park is used for a variety of activities such as family picnics, dog walking, children playing on the play equipment, walking, river swimming, fishing, a local ran exercise group and generally as a place for peace and quiet, relaxation and enjoyment.

The Eskdale Park is a safe place for families to come and enjoy, it is loved by local residents who watch over the park and keep tabs on things going on in the park. Under the proposed plan there will be an increase in vehicles using the park as a parking space for the MTB Hub. We are not confident that the park will remain the safe community space that we all love so much. In addition with the proposed changes to the park the atmosphere of the park will change and it will no longer have the country natural feel that it has currently. Especially with the proposed large car parking areas for the proposed hub.

Play equipment

There is wonderful existing play equipment for children in the park. Children are often seen daily playing on the play equipment. Removing the existing play equipment is a very bad idea. Having only one play area in the park is an even worse idea. Replacing the existing play equipment with something like a dirt loop track is simply awful. It focuses on only children with bikes and those who have an interest in riding around a dirt track. It is our opinion that this is excluding to some children and families. Not to mention interfering with dog walker, fitness walkers and others who like to just stroll around the park. The park is big enough to support two play areas and there is certainly enough children who use the equipment to support leaving the existing play equipment.

Picnic area

The summer is when the park is used the most. It is very common on any day of the week, during the summer months, to find families having BBQ’s and picnics in the park. If we are truly wanting to improve the Eskdale Park then more picnic tables should be brought in not reduced down to one BBQ and picnic area. We certainly support improving picnic and play areas. One two pan toilet block is certainly not enough. Especially in high use summer months. The current toilet blocks are appropriate as they are and should be left alone if not improved.

We support fixing up the entrance and improving roads, installing more picnic tables and upgrading children’s playgrounds however the essence of the park in the proposal has been missed. The Eskdale Park is a natural rural reserve area full of nature, beauty and quiet. It is loved and cherished by many people both local and non-local residents as a place to come to for a country experience. Often people come to the park to just sit in their cars to read, rest and relax. Because the park offers a unique appeal by being close to communities and yet provides the feeling that you are way out in the country. This type of green space is needed and should be protected not converted into something for adventure seekers. An adventure theme to the Eskdale Park will exclude those people who are not into mountain biking, flying foxes, dirt track and etc. This grossly takes away the meaning of the Eskdale community country park.

We have seen and been advised by locals that the MTB parking which was located Waipunga Road was always filled with rubbish and bottles etc. The locals that love the Eskdale Park are always picking rubbish up after park users, especially during the summer months. We can only imagine how the rubbish will increased under the new proposal as well as altering the peaceful rural feel of the park.