Background info on Denton Park plan

A recommendation that Denton Park is used as the site for Hornby’s planned new library, customer and leisure centre will be considered by the Council next week.

The park has been chosen as the preferred site for the new facilities by the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board following consultation with the community.

Today we answer some of your questions about why Denton Park has emerged as the preferred site and what it will mean for current users of the park if the Council adopts the Board's recommendation.

If the Council opts for Denton Park as the site of the new facility, can we still use the park?

If the Council supports the Denton Park site, most of the park will remain unaffected and the multiple facilities will still be available to the public and sports clubs in keeping with the park’s role as a community hub.

One rugby field and one cricket pitch will be shifted, ideally to an upgraded new site nearby.

We will work with any affected sports clubs toward an optimum outcome and that any disruption is kept to a minimum. Any new grounds and facilities are likely to be superior to their present ones.

We will communicate matters that may affect clubs or park users.

If a playing field is lost, will a new field be provided?

Within the project budget, we will provide upgraded facilities and fields elsewhere in the Hornby area, ideally creating a rugby field and cricket ground to replace any lost at Denton Park.

We will work closely with sports clubs to ensure a smooth transition and minimise disruption.

How has the consultation process shaped the preferred location decision?

We received 293 public submissions on the proposed sites. Thirty-eight per cent favoured Denton Park for the new centre, while 43 per cent backed Kyle Park.

Only 14 per cent were in favour of Warren Park.

Our site consultation process covered more than six weeks.  All the feedback was then put to the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board. Its recommendation was informed by the quality and breadth of the submissions from local clubs, groups and agencies in favour of Denton Park.

Denton Park was found to be easily accessible, close to public transport, schools and shops, on solid ground and well-suited to the development of a “civic heart” for Hornby. In many respects, it offered the ideal site for a high-quality, multi-use community and pool facility.

Can I comment further on the Council’s proposed site?

Our consultation period has closed. A decision on the preferred location will be made at our Council meeting on 24 August.

Will there be an opportunity to speak about the site following the Council meeting?

We are required to change the Reserves Act classification of any reserve land to allow for new development. During this process, we will invite public submissions on the proposed use for any park relating to the new facility. A hearings panel will consider every submission. Submitters will also be able to make presentations in person. A final decision on the new site will only be made after all submissions have been considered. This process will occur later in 2017.

Are there any accessibility and traffic issues at Denton Park?

Denton Park provides the better connection to public transport, via the Hornby Hub and interchange.

We may utilise multiple park access points including State Highway 1, Kathleen Crescent and Chalmers Street. We will require New Zealand Transport Agency approval for the SH1 access. We will also need to widen the Chalmers Street access. To smooth the process, we will work alongside the NZ Transport Agency, the Hornby Hub and the Hornby Working Men’s Club to minimise any disruption.

The Main South Road traffic flow, along the Denton Park frontage, is expected to ease on completion of the Southern Motorway in 2020.

Will there be extra car parks at Denton Park?

In total, about 200 car parks will be required, so we will be adding about 153 parks.

Can the Ministry for the Environment’s Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund be used to upgrade Kyle Park?

We haven’t favoured Kyle Park in our recommendations because the ground conditions at the former landfill site are very poor. If we opt for Kyle Park, a significant part of our budget will go on land remediation, rather than a new facility. This could mean that some of the features of a facility built at Kyle Park will be compromised in order to pay for land remediation.

Kyle Park is unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health and the environment, which means it is unlikely we will get any funding from the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund.

Can Kyle Park still undergo an upgrade?

We plan to investigate Kyle Park further to determine if improvements are feasible and to make sure the benefit is worth the cost of upgrading a landfill site.