Walk in park proves popular

CONSULTATION: Masterton District Council Parks and Open Spaces Task Group chairman Gary Caffell with a group taking in Saturday's walk in the park, discussing Stage4 plans for Queen Elizabeth Park. PHOTO/ CHRIS KILFORD

So many people turned up for the organised public walk in the park that they had to be split into two groups for the tour.

Council's Parks and Open Spaces Task Group, chaired by councillor Gary Caffell, held the walk through Queen Elizabeth Park on Saturday highlighting possible action plans and seeking community feedback on the future of a number of trees throughout the park with plans to replace red oaks, an ash and elm tree with pin oaks. Mayor Lyn Patterson and all but four councillors also took part in the consultation walk.

One group was led by council's parks officer Roseanne Hayes the other by park and facilities manager Grant Hathaway.

Mr Caffell said he was impressed with the turnout of about 70 people on Saturday and a further 14; unable to attend on the day, taking in the tour earlier in the week.

"It was hugely successful ... overall ... a very worthwhile exercise."

The main focus of the walk was to explain Stage 4 of the rejuvenation/redevelopment of the park and plans for upgrading Masterton Cemetery.

Poor health of the trees in Memorial Drive, resulting in some trees being removed, was the subject of "animated discussion" as was the current state of the cemetery, he said.

"A number of the trees there are also in poor health and the need to tidy up the cemetery, especially the Pioneer part of it, was stressed by a number of speakers."

Other topics raised included the possible closure of Memorial Drive to traffic after 9pm to stop boy racers from doing burnouts and to lessen the risk of vandalism to trees, Mr Caffell said.

While the Archer St gates were not a part of this stage of the rejuvenation process, the issue was "hotly debated".

"The general opinion being that the council were going to be subjected to flak no matter what their final decision was on the matter."

Submissions for Stage 4 of the park's rejuvenation close on January 31. The council will also consider the 400-signature Archer St Gates Petition presented last month at the same time as the Stage 4 submissions.

"Council often gets accused of not listening to the public but this is their chance to make their views known and hopefully [the public] will take advantage of it, Mr Caffell said.