Development of Sandy Point is being opened up to public consultation following the Invercargill City Council’s approval of the long-term plan.
Councillors received the Sandy Point Domain master plan and management plan and endorsed council offers to begin a public consultation process, at a community wellbeing committee meeting yesterday.
The plan is vast in scope, and looks to develop the area in various steps over a period of up to 30 to 50 years.
Some of the key projects include development of a multi-use area including a dog park, disc golf and informal walking areas, development of a new visitor hub, and completing a sealed road loop incorporating Pit Rd, Links Rd and Sandy Point Rd.
Numerous challenges facing the area were listed in the report, including remaining relevant to future residents and recreational trends.
Other challenges included a perceived lack of security (no cell reception), the potential impact of climate change and sea level rise, pest plants and animals, and conflicting activities between dog walkers, mountainbikers and horse riders.
Residents of the off-the-grid micro-village Coopers Creek, which is within the Sandy Point domain, attended the meeting.
Some residents have been involved in an ongoing dispute with the council for several years opposing rates rises.
Mayor Nobby Clark said he was not happy approving the plan until a line that would have required the residents to restructure their documentation was amended.
"While we’ve got an ongoing dispute with them, we should not be writing them in the document."
Councillors agreed to amend the wording and the document was approved.
Public notification of the process will take place from September 30 to December 13.
