The board met to consider the submissions on Vincent ward matters as hearings on the 2021-31 plan across Central Otago continued.
The headliners for consideration were the Alexandra Riverside Park development and plans for the Omakau Community Hub; both were given the go-ahead to go to the council, but it was supporting acts or those not actually included in the long-term plan that stole the show.
Nine submitters spoke.
Alexandra Parents Centre representative Nicola Rae said the issues she raised were not related to the key issues, but were about a lack of facilities for feeding and changing babies and preschool-aged children and Pioneer Park’s playground lacking equipment for under-2s.
She provided costs for playground equipment and installation.
Later, board members supported an upgrade and agreed to recommend it be considered in a future plan.
There was less support for changing facilities. Mayor Tim Cadogan investigated and found there were sufficient facilities in Alexandra Community House, but board members agreed they could be better signposted.
Jo Blackie, of Jo Blackie Swim School, spoke of a change in fee structure at Alexandra Pool pertaining to private swim schools.
The issue provoked about an hour of discussion before it was agreed there should be some parity in fees between Cromwell and Alexandra pools.
Bridgette Winter, of Molyneux Turf Incorporated, and Sally Mullally, of Dunstan High School, spoke of expanding the existing half hockey turf at Molyneux Park to meet the number of players.
The board agreed to assess numbers to be presented in a report to the council, the Central Otago Hockey Association, the Central Lakes Trust and Molyneux Turf Incorporated "to discuss a way forward".
Mary Anne and Rod Baxter asked why planning and implementation timelines for Alexandra and Clyde master plans were not included in the long-term plan.
Plans similar to that adopted in Cromwell had been talked about for both towns, Mrs Baxter said.
Board members said those issues had largely been addressed in spatial plans and in the case of Cromwell, the master plan, which had been adopted in 2019, although the issues identified were only now being considered.
They acknowledged the different terminology used for similar plans could be confusing for the public.
Peter Kloosterman spoke in opposition to the Alexandra Riverside Park and said he viewed the project through a "planner’s lens".
The site was prone to flooding, was the former site of Molyneux Motors and might include hazardous material, and there was "no overview" from a crime perspective, he said.
The board agreed to recommend both the Alexandra Riverside Park and the Omakau Community Hub proceed according to the council’s preferred options.
In the case of the park development, it would recommend it be fully loan-funded, and in the case of the hub that it be supported by way of a loan, a reserve fund contribution and a general reserves split of one-third each.
The Maniototo and Teviot Valley community boards will hear submissions today.
