City councillors have agreed on a public consultation process that may result in the sale of several parcels of parks and reserves, and at least one developer has already shown interest in buying an area of the Donovan Park farm.
Council parks and recreation manager Caroline Rain presented the report Parks Land Disposal Options at Tuesday’s council community wellbeing committee meeting.
The report summarised the review of land for disposal after a long-term plan land disposal options discussion at a previous meeting, where councillors requested land surplus to needs be presented as options for disposal/release of land.
Mr Clark said the sale of Donovan Park had some urgency for him personally due to its potential for development.
"That parcel of land opens some options for us to achieve the housing outcomes that we’ve been striving for for probably two decades."
He had been approached by a potential developer that was willing to pay $6 million for 5ha of Donovan Park, he said.
The report noted the disposal process had already begun for the Woodend Reserve, Queens Park Dr, the Awarua Bay Reserve, Mokomoko Rd Reserve and 231 Scott St.
Areas deemed an "acceptable risk" for disposal included Rockdale Park, part of Bluff Hill Reserve, the Conway Cres Playground, Waihopai Sports Association and part of Donovan Farm.
Areas of "minimal risk" included the J.G. Ward Reserve, part of Newfield Park, the Elizabeth St Reserve, Vernon St Reserve, McMillian St Reserve, Bluff Camping Ground and Suir St Reserve.
