A long-term plan to build a dog park in Ōrewa’s Western Reserve was put before the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board recently.
The idea is in its very early stages, with a draft concept design prepared and a proposed location at the northwestern end of the reserve chosen.
The local board, along with dog owners, has been keen to see a dog park on the Hibiscus Coast and funded investigation into the options. A proposal was unveiled at its October 28 workshop.
The costs are expected to be considerable, and Council staff are suggesting that the project be divided into two stages. Stage 1, a smaller scale, 3000sqm dog park, is estimated to cost around $234,000 and once Stage 2 is added the total cost could be in the vicinity of $766,150. Fencing and gravel paths are among the big ticket items.
The suggested site is a closed landfill. It is close to a number of homes in Centreway Road and Edgewater Grove and the proposed design includes 20m buffer zones to address privacy and noise issues.
The proposal has also been designed to suit the reserve, and the other activities that already take place there.
The plan is for the dog park to be fully fenced with a 1.5m high fence, two double-gated pedestrian entries and separate areas within it for dogs with different energy levels – this is to reduce the likelihood of conflict between the dogs. Landscaping elements such as low mounds, rocks and planting would be included.
Public consultation will take place once feedback has been obtained from stakeholders and an updated draft plan created. That wider consultation will be some way off, but in the meantime Council staff told local board members that they will be approaching stakeholders – including the owners of neighbouring properties – to discuss the plan.
Currently there is not enough money to deliver even Stage 1 of the dog park and this will need to be allocated by the local board if the project is to go ahead.
