The future of Forbury Park Raceway is far from settled, but the Dunedin City Council is already drawing up plans for a housing settlement incorporating a radical water feature.
A lavish cul-de-sac known as Forbury Quay could be complemented by an attractive water corridor, boat berths, bridges and waterfront accommodation.
Leaked documents — including an artist’s impression — show the beginnings of bold conceptual planning that could fit in with a drive to adapt to climate change.
The ambitious development could accommodate up to 450 people, as well as boost flood protection and improve stormwater management in South Dunedin, according to city planners.
The land is owned by the Forbury Park Trotting Club, which
is looking to move from its St Kilda site after a review commissioned by New Zealand Racing.
That has led to speculation about how the land might be used.
City council spokesman Tony Trott denied the leaked documents had any status within the council.
"It looks like a case of putting the cart before the horse," Mr Trott said.
"Sure, our innovative team of executives work on scenarios from time to time and they’re encouraged to be creative.
"But it would be wrong to characterise this as planning or any serious design on the future of Forbury Park.
"We have not been presumptuous. We did not jump the gun."
The documents leak followed moves from the Government to calm a heated housing market.
Among the responses is allowing Kainga Ora to borrow $2billion to scale up land acquisitions to increase housing supply. A $3.8billion fund has also been set up to boost infrastructure for housing.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development said it could not confirm there had been any discussions with the city council related to Forbury Park.
Dunedin has a housing shortage and the city council has promoted a variation to its district plan, which is expected to result in more housing being created.
One difficulty for developers in South Dunedin is the area’s lack of a natural water course, which puts pressure on the stormwater system.
Mr Trott said it would not be wise for people to put much stock on the leaked documents.
"This is Dunedin — not Venice," he said.
The council would make a further response at noon, he said.
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Comments
What day is today 😂
I'm sorry, but if you're rich enough that your biggest problem is where to berth your yacht, or trying to purchase a faux lakeside property, then I dont care. That the first thought of someone at the council was a "let them eat cake" mentality that lead to this brain fart is astonishing. This idea will do nothing to make housing affordable - quite the opposite it will gentrify the area and make South D even less affordable, and it still does not address the issue of the high water table and risk of flooding - who's paying to keep that channel dredged open.
Gotcha!
Lol yes I realised that when I was at work today. In my defence, I'd just written my submission on the 10 year plan, so I was just looking for an excuse for a good harrump! Well done ODT ;-)
Well done ODT!....I had to take a second read before I realized. You almost had me.
Brilliant ... absolutely BRILLIANT !!
And I assume waterside house owners are permitted to put duck decoys out and shoot during the season ...
Better get a hurry up though, the season starts next month ... having said that, with the rise in the water table due to global warming, it would only take a day or two wwith a decent digger to do most of it !!
Not bad, one your better one's in recent years.
Genius. Should we be worried that the best ideas for Dunedin development come from the ODT on April the 1st, and not from the city council? I'm still waiting for the Octagon to get its roof btw. ;-)
I think it says a lot about the current council when you read this and can't tell if it's the ODTs first of April gag or for real.
WOW !
Tony Trot...hee hee
Yeah good one ya April fool, very poor attempt odt.
Not a smart idea considering a high risk of a tsunami from an off shore fault nearby.
It’s great to see some imagination being applied to the possible uses of such a site, but there will be a few expat Dunedinites such as myself, living in or near such developments on the Gold Coast and elsewhere shaking their heads in disbelief at how inappropriate this concept is.
Coastal inundation as a result of sea level rise is a very real threat all over the world and the Pacific in general, and such communities as these are already concerned at what the future might bring. And the floods of 2015 showed how many parts of South Dunedin are at or below sea level as it is.
So the one concept that gets time and good money spent on an artists’ impression is the one that is most likely to be the biggest unmitigated disaster.
It seems that not quite enough imagination was employed in this case...
Best one for a while. Well done
This was a really nifty prank, but I do suspect DCC's version will be even better. A gated community with access only by bike or walking.
That's exactly the kind of vision that Dunedin needs. Not just rabbit hutch housing. Same along the derelict harbourside, if that ever actually becomes a thing
Well done ODT, more thought has gone into this than into George by the DCC. Just one thing to add to the design; make the houses floating homes so if there is any sea level rise in the next 100 years, it won't matter.
I think there are two worrying aspects here: one, while obviously a joke, especially when there's ample parking provided - there's the time someone spent doing a very creditable job with photoshop. Second, the fact that so many people wouldn't be in the least surprised that the council would come up with something like this. Makes it an excellent April Fools... largely because it's so believable. Ouch.
I have to confess I bought it as truth initially. After all it's not much bigger lunacy than very real DCC plans to turn George St into a cycle lane or build an astronomically expensive bridge to nowhere.