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A concept plan for a new $4.9 million park and play area at Milldale has been given the go-ahead by Rodney Local Board.
Waterloo Reserve will be an oval-shaped green space bordered by Milldale’s first neighbourhood centre and not far from the new Milldale Primary School.
Fulton Hogan’s plan includes a pump track and playgrounds, a basketball half court, a kick-around area, sheltered seating, toilets, open green spaces, walkways and a bridge across the Waterloo Stream flowing through the centre of the reserve.
Earlier concerns voiced by board members over a lack of shade, riparian planting management and the stream crossing had now been addressed, September’s meeting heard.
The developer had since incorporated more shaded areas into the design, promised robust vegetation maintenance and management plans and provided further details on proposed stream crossings.
Senior parks planner Sean Stirling said Fulton Hogan was keen to develop the reserve as soon as possible and incorporate works into the development of surrounding Stage 4 land. He thought the project could be started within a month or two, once Auckland Council staff approved detailed design drawings.
The budget for Waterloo Reserve is estimated at $4.9 million, with Council’s contribution capped at $1.25 million and Fulton Hogan providing the rest, including any escalations in cost. Annual maintenance will be funded and carried out by Council’s parks and community facilities department.
Board members heard that the Infrastructure Funding Agreement with Fulton Hogan was providing a great asset for the growing Milldale suburb.
“Delivery of this reserve concept will provide the community with a multi-use park at a fraction of the overall cost to Council, and well in excess of Council’s investment,” Stirling said in his report.
“If Council had to fully fund the delivery of the concept plan, it would be many years before a park of that calibre would be fully funded. There would also be significant cost increases and a risk of less overall being delivered for the community.”
