A proposal to upgrade Earnslaw Park is likely to go out for public consultation after tomorrow's Queenstown Lakes District Council community services committee meeting in the resort.
Council parks manager Gordon Bailey said $78,334 had been budgeted for turf renovations in Earnslaw Park in this year's capital budget, with an additional $545,705 budgeted to "refurbish or replace" the park's public toilets.
Mr Bailey's report said the capital budget was principally set aside for turf enhancement, but it was apparent a wider look was needed at how this "key" open-space area was meeting needs and pressures put on it by an ever-increasing events list.
The last refurbishment of the park took place in the 1990s. At that time, many of the activities for which the park is now used, such as the Rail Jam, were not envisaged.
Baxter Design Group, whose principal Paddy Baxter undertook the original design, was engaged to develop two draft concepts to go out for public consultation.
The initial brief included:
- Two plan options, one with toilets in the same location, one with toilets next to Thomas' Hotel.
- Seating under or around the Pin Oak tree and some other form of surface under its drip line, such as hoggin.
- Options for staging events, with associated power boxes etc.
- Lighting, seating, litter bins and shade options.
- Willow trees remaining or being removed and replaced with alternatives.
- A raised seating area similar to that by the flood memorial.
- Whether the garden/Moa statue is in the correct place for best use of the park.
- Keeping the promenade along the lakeside.
- Drainage requirements.
The turf specifications, including irrigation, were being developed by New Zealand Turf Institute.
The cost estimate for the turf renovation was being finalised and ideally would be carried out in early spring.
"The existing turf is pretty run down and patchy with an undulating surface.
"During the growing season it is fertilised and watered on a regular basis and from a general amenity perspective still performs its original function as a surface to passively recreate on," Mr Bailey said.
"When the growth slows at each end of summer and during winter, the turf surface at times looks less than inviting."
Mr Bailey said neither plan had yet been priced "as it would seem more appropriate to price the final agreed plan following public consultation".
His report said it would "not be economic" to spend money on the turf this year because it was likely to be "significantly altered" in shape and size when upgrade plans were implemented.
He recommended the council consult the public on the draft plans before they were brought back to the committee for consideration; the preferred landscape plan be priced for inclusion in next year's annual plan; and the council refrain from spending the remaining allocated Earnslaw Park turf renovation budget, but continue to "patch up the turf periodically" out of operational budgets as necessary.
