Cutting of poplars angers residents

Press, 7 March 1984, Page 5

Cutting of poplars angers residents

Neighbours of Walter Park in Mairehau want a say in its future development

The Christchurch City Council’s parks and recreation committee was told yesterday that some residents were angry about the cutting down of poplar trees in the park, at the northern edge of the city. That had been done before approval of a development plan for the park, the residents said.

Walter Park is at the comer of Hills Road and Kellys Road, and has been leased for grazing and cropping over the years. Now the council is about to develop it for sports and other recreation.

Councillors were told that the poplars had been removed after a detailed investigation by the council’s tree export, who found disease and die-back in the trees.

Mr N. W. Drain, the parks and recreation director, said his department would welcome suggestions from residents on the preliminary development plan.

Basic site works, including cultivation and levelling of the land, would not affect future design details for Walter Park.

The council has $13,800 in this year’s budget to start the park’s development. Mr Drain said that the poplars had been “without question suffering from an incurable disease.” It had been an oversight that residents had not been informed before the work was done. Concerts

After some behavioural problems during the Sweetwaters South concert at Queen Elizabeth II Park last month, councillors recommended changed security measures. They said the council should provide security officers, paid for by concert promoters, for everywhere but the stage and backstage areas. Park managers should have the right to provide additional security staff if the need arose.

If conditions affecting law and order or public safety required more security staff, additional costs would

be the promoter’s responsibility. Pools closing Queen Elizabeth II Park pools will probably be closed for their annual winter maintenance from July 16 to August 10, five working days longer than usual to allow more work to be done. B.M.X. track Councillors have not found a suitable site in south-west Christchurch for a competition B.M.X. track sought by some Spreydon residents. A petition organised by two intermediate school pupils had asked for a site behind Pioneer Sports Stadium in Centennial Park, but that has been ruled out because it would compete with the need for more parking in the area. An adjoining City Council works yard has no land available for a cycle track. Councillors were told that other areas had been

studied. Officers are studying the feasbility of buying a large tract of land near Sunnyside Hospital, and next to the southern motorway, for a future reserve. A report on the land’s possible purchase by the council will be ready in about three months. A B.M.X. track could be one use for the land. The Spreydon Ratepayers and Residents’ Association said the council should be cautious in deciding to build a B.M.X. track on land where it might receive little use. Helicopter trial The parks committee will probably hold a special meeting to hear submissions on any future extension to the three-month sightseeing trial granted to Garden City Heliflights for flights from the New Brighton foreshore. Councillors may hear submissions from all interested parties, then consider them in committee before deciding whether to allow the use of the helipad to continue.