Bid to solve pump track stand-off

Matakana Community Group (MCG) and Matakana Pony Club plan to work together in a bid to solve a stand-off over the siting of a new pump track at Diamond Jubilee Park.

MCG has been planning to develop a wheeled play track at the park for at least six years and has Auckland Council backing for the project. However, the pony club remains opposed, as it says it would lead to a loss of vehicle parking for its fundraising events.

At an MCG meeting on Monday, July 8, chair Simon Barclay said the group was on track to seek landowner approval from Rodney Local Board and construction was scheduled to start on November 1.

However, pony club president Andrea Moore claimed there had been no consultation with them over the plans, which Barclay refuted.

“I find it quite surprising that you feel you haven’t been consulted because I’ve been involved with this particular project now for probably 12 years,” he said. “I’ve met with Alexander Longuet-Higgins several times when he was president and we worked together, then I met with Angela, had two meetings with her, and then we had a meeting with her and somebody else.”

Moore said parking remained the crucial issue.

“We don’t mind it being there per se, but it impinges on our parking area,” she said.

Barclay said the parking should actually improve, due to planned drainage improvements, and pointed out that the track would only take around a third of the community area behind the tennis courts.

“I’m more than happy to sit down and talk with you, but we’ve spent a lot of money already planning this, the builder’s been up and visited, and your parking will actually improve,” he said. “I don’t think there’ll be much of an issue with the events I’ve seen.”

He confirmed after the meeting that MCG would work with the pony club to find a compromise.

“I believe Jubilee Park is big enough for everyone,” Barclay added.