Community share ideas for former school site
Playing fields, walking tracks, a new playground, coastal planting and beach access could be on the cards for the old Tomahawk School site under a draft plan.
In late October, residents met with Dunedin City Council staff to discuss their wishes for the 1.6ha site, which has lain mostly fallow since it was closed by the Ministry of Education in 2010. The land was sold to Ngai Tahu at the time, and was then bought by the council in 2012 for $300,000, as part of its coastal protection plans.
Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman Paul Pope, who has long had a keen interest in the site, is pleased that some progress is being made, after years of delays — some caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"It’s great that the community has been able to have its say on the possible future uses of the site — we really need local residents to be involved," Mr Pope said.
Last month’s discussion had elicited some interesting ideas and opinions from the community, including a strong preference for a continuation of coastal protection, with plantings and beach access, he said.
Other ideas included the creation of a shared recreational play space, possibly involving a redevelopment of the local playground; utilising the ground for junior football; and a play space near to the existing hall were popular ideas.
Council staff had gone away and created a "draft issues and opportunities" plan for the site, which was included in the Otago Peninsula Community Board papers for last week’s meeting.
The draft plan includes proposed play spaces and sports pitch, as well as including opportunities to develop tracks, a possible site for toilets, and some roading and footpath improvements.
The on-site hall, which is the only building remaining from the original Tomahawk School, is being used by Grants Braes Football Club.
The club had indicated it was committed to supporting other groups by sharing facilities.
"A pathway linking the Luke St entrance to the site to the hall would be ideal."
Mr Pope said the proposals in the draft plan did not have funding allocated to them at this stage, and would need to go through the council’s long-term plan process to come to fruition.
"Progress has been a long time coming, so now is a good time to get something happening on this site," he said.
"With another 50 to 60 new homes planned in two large subdivisions, there are going to be a lot more families in the area in the next few years — this is a community on the rise.
"So it makes sense to get on and upgrade the local recreational facilities.
"It is important that the final plans reflect the needs and wishes of the community — those that do are the most successful in the long run," he said.
- Local people will have another opportunity to meet with council staff to discuss plans at a community meeting to be held on Sunday, November 22, from 7pm, at the Grants Braes Football Club.
