Aqua Park Gets Green Light

The Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board considered a report from Council staff at their meeting on 2 August, and listened to a deputation from a member of the community. Minutes of the meeting can be viewed here.

The Community Board approved a Licence to Occupy to the WHoW Trust for a three year term on NCF Reserve – subject to the Trust obtaining the relevant resource consents.

Since then, the Trust have been working with Environment Canterbury and the Council to obtain the relevant Resource Consents for the operation, and these have now been granted.

This means the WHoW Trust now have the green light to go ahead with the Aqua Play Park proposal, and intend to open the facility to the public on November 27.

As they will be opening under Alert Level 2 COVID-19 restrictions, numbers will be limited with physical distancing measures will be in place. You can find out more here.

ECan’s consent conditions included:

• Anchoring of any floating, inflatable obstacles in Courtenay Lake and tethered and anchored to the bank
• The installation and removal of 70 concrete anchors on the bed of Courtenay Lake (removal would be once the Aqua Park facility is decommissioned or once the consent expires - whichever occurs first)
• The consented activities shall only occur for six months of the year between the months of October and March
• Installation or placement of structures shall not be undertaken in any inanga spawning habitat during spawning season of 1 March to 1 June
• Various conditions around wildlife, in particular bird monitoring and surveys at Courtenay Lake to locate the nests or chicks of any ‘Nationally Threatened’ or ‘At Risk’ bird species present.

Council consent conditions included:

• The hours of operation of the Aqua Park and ancillary activities shall only operate between 8am and 9pm Monday to Sunday
• The operation shall be at a maximum, from 1 October to 31 March annually
• All equipment and structures shall be fully removed from the site at the end of each six month cycle
• The consent holder shall provide a site management plan for approval to the Council’s Compliance Team Leader that includes how rubbish will be disposed of, weeding, mowing of lawns and toilet waste disposal, as well as a comprehensive emergency response procedure, and notification of emergency procedures for any hydrocarbon spills and wet weather ponding risk.
• The consent holder shall reinstate any damage to the carpark area to a grassed surface by 30 April each year to the satisfaction of Council’s Greenspace Manager
• 65 car parks should be provided that are clearly marked, including three mobility car parks and five cycle parks onsite
• Noise limits apply.

The above is a summary only. Full details of the Resource Consent conditions can be viewed on the original consultation page under ‘documents’ here.

Thanks again for giving us your feedback on this proposal. We look forward to hearing from you on other projects in the future.