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The division of land as detailed in the open space study report from 2018.
A lease that formalises shared use of the Diamond Jubilee Park in Matakana between the village pony club and the wider community has been granted by Rodney Local Board.
The new agreement means Matakana Pony Club can continue to use two hectares of open space for its riding and rallies, having surrendered a 3400sqm area behind the tennis courts for community use.
However, the club’s licence to occupy the bulk of Jubilee Park is non-exclusive, meaning that other events can potentially be held there, providing groups work in collaboration with the pony club.
Auckland Council community lease advisor Karen Walby told a Local Board meeting in October that the pony club would be expected to take down temporary jumps or structures for such events, though permanent jumps could be left in place, and equestrian use should generally prevail.
Club president Alexander Longuet-Higgins said members were totally prepared to allow the land to be used for something like a festival, and pointed out that people already used the park for walking and so on.
“We acknowledge that it’s one of the only green spaces in Matakana,” he said. “We realise we live with the community and want to work with them to make sure the park has maximum use. We try to keep the park flexible.” However, he pointed out that while there were other sportsfields within easy reach of Matakana, there were very few riding facilities.
“There is a lack of places for people to ride horses. We provide a great service to the riding community,” he said. “Our membership has more than doubled in seven years, we have 69 members now and it’s continuing to increase.”
The club ran weekly rallies and other events and anyone was free to ride there, he added.
Board deputy chair Beth Houlbrooke said there was a need for extra signage to make it clear that Jubilee Park was open to the public.
“I can see why it gives the impression that it’s only the pony club, as the gates are locked and there are just pony club signs. You would think you can’t go in there,” she said. “It looks like you can’t do anything else – it needs a sign saying it’s a park and reserve. One including dogs and a picnic table might give it a more inclusive feel.”
The division of land use detailed in the new five-year lease agreement was one of the options suggested in a Matakana Diamond Jubilee Park Open Space Study report by Bespoke Landscape Architects in 2018. The report and its three suggested options for varying degrees of shared use caused ructions at the time, with local residents divided over how the park should be used.
