Let's Talk About Millton Memorial Park Development

Include youth

Hi... Love most of the draft plan, and the community focus! I consider it really important to see something for youth included...an area for developing mountain biking skills is an idea, that ties in with the existing mountain biking trails. Is the North Canterbury cycling club a stakeholder in this development? Hanmer springs have a new mtb skills area, that I think could really be expanded on for Milton Park. Let's talk some more!

Small dog park area increased, with a gravel track to walk around on safely.

Campground

Hi Grant, Not sure how much WDC is taking on ideas/suggestions around the Park development or whether it's already a done deal, but I have discussed with a couple of people (including Dan Gordon) the idea of using part of that area for a "Centre Ville" style campground. My thinking is based on my experiences travelling throughout France (& Europe) as well as over a decade of working in Travel Tourism (corporate, wholesale, inbound, outbond, travel agent and Marketing and Sales with Singapore Airlines. Throughout Europe, and esp France, you find centrally located (centre ville), modestly priced, council run facilities for holiday makers. As we all know Rangora is not a tourism destination, which ironically has served us well in terms of the impact of Covid on the economy - we haven't had any tourism business to impact! My partner and I have been running Fools of Desire Cafe in central Rangiora for 4 years and at the height of summer we see a downturn of business, not an increase, as locals leave for other tourist spots. But as the vaccines take effect and the long term impact of the structural changes to international tourism hit, I think the domestic tourist market will increase and be strong for a number of years, followed eventually by an inevitable increase again of international tourism. If Rangiora can make some changes now and start to market itself as a domestic tourist destination we will only see increased benefits when international tourism comes back. To do that we need a much stronger emphasis on marketing this amazing region we live in - mountains, rivers, beaches, wineries, small towns, food producers. But we also need infrastructure to support it. Talk to anyone in tourism and they will tell you that to grow a destination you need to get people talking about you, welcome them, make it easy for the FIT (Free Independent Traveller) to come to your region. Once they are talking about you, the higher end groups, VFR (Visiting friends & relatives), tour groups will follow. A simple way to engage these people and make it easy is to provide a facility close to town, it has to be walking distance, so they can not only have a base for exploring the region, but can also easily access cafes, bars, restaurants, cinemas, doctors, supermarkets. The Millton park location is perfect. With a relatively simple addition of walking paths to central Rangiora, a "Welcome to Rangiora Village and Campsite" or similarly friendly name, could be a perfect location. Walking distance to all of the facilities, close to the river and on a major road intersection to head north or south. I would suggest a modern design that provides accommodation for tents/campervans, and utilising technology to make it self managing (self cleaning toilets and shower areas, solar powered, composting toilets, automated check ins). Modern design and technology would allow you to create a low maintenance, self sustaining facility - where the income would also allow for a small number of staff - at no cost to the council long term. I would also suggest a competition to design the facility and a bold, world class look. You only need to look at the Hundterwasser facilities in the North Island to see how a unique and inspirational design can turn the most basic of facilities into a world class tourist attraction! ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundertwasser_Toilets). The facility would not compete with the very limited, existing accommodation providers in Rangiora. They would be a market that would not normally stay in motels and unlikely to stay in a campground a long way out of the town. It is also something that could easily be incorporated into the arboretum idea, but would provide a lot more in combination economically than a standalone arboretum. As much as I like the idea of an extended dog park, model train club, and arboretum, none of those ideas will attract more people to the region, contribute economically, provide jobs and be self sustaining. They all already exist in one form or another - gardens, parks, dog areas, enthusiast clubs etc. It would be good to do something bold and innovative - perhaps even combine the arboretum and the "designer" camp village with a true sculpture park! We certainly don't have an over supply of public artworks in the region! *One other additional thought - I also run a number of events and a centrally located, unique and "well designed" facility like this would certainly be something that event organisers could also publicise to increase event attendance. Cheers Karl Karl Horwarth 027 77 77 412 Fools of Desire Cafe Waimakariri Winter Festival Rangiora Festival of Colour Rangiora Light & Sound

Dog Park Extension

Attn: Grant Stephens Green Space Community Engagement Officer C/- grant.stephens@wmk.govt.nz LET’S TALK - MILLTON MEMORIAL PARK DEVELOPMENT FEEDBACK Thank you for this opportunity to review the master plan and provide our feedback. We are thrilled to see the plans for an Arboretum, extended on-lead walkways leading from the existing Dog Park, additional large specimen trees and the proposed agility area. The addition of the arboretum will make it a lovely place to bring families and have picnics etc, while also being able to use the adjacent dog park. The Friends of the dog Park group are extremely grateful for the section allocated, but would like to refer the Council back to our correspondence in 2019 where we had incorporated the area with the large pine trees into our planning. We have noted that this area has not been earmarked for any specific purpose in the current plans and would like to request again that this be included in the agility/activity area as indicated below. Our reasoning for the larger area allocation: • This additional space amongst the trees will add further enrichment for the dogs and owners alike, as well as providing a larger space for the Dog Park without impacting on the Arboretum. • Incorporation of the existing large pine trees would give much needed shade through the hottest months providing an area significantly cooler for dogs and their owners. • As these tress are not “specimen” trees that deserve special protection, they hold little value for the arboretum but hold a far greater purpose within the proposed dog park extension. • With global warming being a focus as temperatures are ever increasing we feel this is an excellent way to future proof our amazing dog park and ensure the ongoing use of the park year round. • From what we can see, the cost to fence that additional area would be similar, if not less than fencing the area currently proposed. Fundraising for the Agility Equipment • As with the installation of the Shelters, the Friends group in conjunction with the Rangiora Lions are happy to raise funds to build the agility equipment and landscape the area. • If the proposed area could be fenced within the next 12 months, we could get straight in to fundraising and building. We have preliminary plans and scopes already prepared so could begin as soon as we’re given the green light and dates. Additional Comments: • May we suggest a path direct from the agility gate through the arboretum to the crossing by the BMX track so the walkway in the arboretum forms a loop but also gives direct dog/walk access to the river area. • We are thrilled to see the additional tree in the small dog park area for shade and very pleased to see that provision has been made for public toilets in the area. Thank you! We appreciate you taking our request into consideration and look forward to any feedback you may have. If it’s an option, we would like to make a verbal presentation to expand on our submission and answer any questions. Warmest regards, Jayne Rattray On behalf of the Friends of the Rangiora Dog Park Committee - and the 12,000+ registered dogs in the Waimakariri District, many of which visit the Milton Dog Park on a regular basis ((Ref: Annual Report for 20017/18) Phone: 03 313 3128 | Email: jaynerattray@me.com

Tree Types for Arboretum

29 Carmichael Street Landline: (03)9755253 Covane Mews Trevor’s Rangiora. 7400 Mobile: (021)467887 (HORTUS) North Canterbury email: mountgrand@gmail.com Attention: Grant Stephens Re: My Desire for Millton Park I am greatly in favour of having an Arboretum in Rangiora, and Millton Park is the only one offered for this long-term project. I hold two main concerns based on the public notice: My first concern is the choice of tree types. “Exotic and Native trees” I am against. There are many examples in North Canterbury public spaces set aside to display, or by random intent in other gardens, to grow native species, and I feel this group is reasonably covered. Evergreen exotic trees are also reasonably well represented in Parks and private gardens. The Arboretum, in my mind, should exhibit only deciduous trees. Firstly because they deliver shade in the hot Summer when folks could sit under them and enjoy the experience, and secondly because they lose their leaves for the Winter, the many beautiful shades of Autumn create another seasonal highlight. The foliage should be gathered and composted to enhance the soil in which the trees would be growing, as the soil type is not the most desirable! My second concern is the pathway and access. An arboretum should exhibit an other-world experience compared to the common observation of busyness, and noise. It should be stately, and a place of passive enjoyment. Direct access should not be made possible from the Dog Park next door. The dogs (and their owners) already have their space, the arboretum should not allow dogs, or cycles, cycles also have access in many other areas, and the Arboretum should be retained as a clean, reasonably quiet, sedate space in which people can walk or even lie on the grass without having to keep an eye out for a reminder a dog had been present, or keep an eye out for cyclists. Pathways should be carefully considered and debated before being laid down. The paths will not need to be laid for some years after the trees are planted and established. Planting positions, however, should consider where the future paths will be. Some form of irrigation will be necessary, too, perhaps following the proposed pathways? I wish to thank you for being a willing servant to a diverse community. Sincerely Trevor Wright. December, 2020.