The words of caution were made in a staff report that will be given to councillors during a full council meeting tomorrow.
The full council meeting will be held online using Zoom, to keep participants safe under Alert Level 4.
During the meeting, staff will seek councillors’ approval of a draft submission to Harness Racing New Zealand’s public consultation on the future of Forbury Park.
After more than 100 years of harness racing in St Kilda, the park closed last month, following a New Zealand Racing-commissioned review recommendation.
The council’s draft submission reinforces its position on future development at Forbury Park, which was agreed on during a council meeting in May.
The position was that future developments required “very careful” consideration of natural hazards and should take into account the likely changes to the physical environment, including the effects on groundwater for the long term, meaning 100 years and longer.
The council also endorsed the examination of opportunities to use the site to mitigate flood hazards for the wider South Dunedin area when considering any proposal for redevelopment.
A precautionary approach that identifies, assesses and manages the risk by using avoidance and adaptive management should be used, the draft submission said.
Council staff said Forbury Park, located in St Kilda, was an area considered “at risk” from sea-level rise due to climate change.
“During the June 2015 South Dunedin floods, Forbury Park experienced significant ponding which highlights the risks.”
Staff said it was the council’s role to influence and support good decision-making to ensure Otago’s communities were resilient to natural hazards and could adapt to climate change.
If a decision cannot be reached by Harness Racing New Zealand and the Forbury Park Trotting Club, the Minister of Racing will be required to make a decision about how Forbury Park is to be used in the future.
Submissions close on September 14.
Related Stories
Comments
I wonder if a drain or two would help
Maybe, someone could ask a Dutchman
Good photo of past water issues, lets be positive & make a feature of such a large water body.
Here in Dunedin down in the wharf area stored in a warehouse are all the fittings, pipes etc from the Octagon's former "Star" fountain.
Yes they still lurk in the shadows awaiting their time in the sun again.
What a sight to behold out there in the middle of Lake Forbury, lights perhaps, music even, spraying for all to see each evening till late.
If only...