HUTT PARK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 19, 22 July 1939, Page 11

HUTT PARK

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

SHIFTING OF TRACK

TOWN PLANNER'S ADVICE

I Suggestions for the development of J Hutt Park to provide the fullest' amount of recreation were made last: j night by Mr. J. W. Mawson, the Govjernment Town Planner, at a meeting' 'of the Hutt Park Committee. Mr. Mawson was invited to lay his views, . before the meeting, and representatives of the Wellington Trotting Club were 1 also asked to attend. ' | Mr. W. F. Horr.ig. the chairman, welcomed Mr. Mawson. He asked him to give his views concerning a thorough | lay-out and reorganisation of the park. ; Mr. Mawson began with a brief survey on New Zealand conditions, and the need for longsighted planning in connection with the development of certain areas. Referring to the plan-j | ning of recreational areas, he menj tioned the success attained at BlackI pool, where an area of less than 200 ; acres was made a very payable proi position after being intensively deI veloped along the right lines. The size of Hutt Park was 80 acres, and it should be capable of accommodating, daily 2000 people actively engaged in some sport or other. Camping facilities were very necessary, and room would be provided on the eastern side of the park for at least fifty camps. The area could be developed as a picnic ground, which should prove very popular. BADLY LAID OUT. At the first glance, a large photographic map of the park indicated that the Trotting Club was taking up a lot of ground. He was considering the value of the land as used for trotting and comparing it with the same area used for other recreational purposes. In any case, the trotting course was badly laid out. It would be a definite improvement if the course was altered so that the long sides were nearly parallel with Randwick Road. The grandstands could then be built backing on Randwick Road and facing east. The present structures were obsolete, and would probably have to be rebuilt if the club's tenure was to 'continue for some years. Experts had told him that the track was too long by a furlong, and could profitably be shortened by that distance. Here several members interrupted, and stated that the present track was of standard length. Mr. Mawson said that, even retaining its present size, the track could be placed to better advantage. He also advised the Hutt Park Committee that, until the Trotting Club had come to a definite decision, the committee should not encourage the erection of any more temporary buildings. A road should be continued around on the southern bank of the Waiwhetu Stream, outside the park boundaries. The existing road could be closed and the space utilised for other purposes, and access to the motor camp could be provided from the new road by means of a bridge. The committee would find it well worth while to culvert the stream which ran through the park property. Mr. Hornig: At present the stream is spoiling the park, and rendering quite a bit of ground useless. FURTHER AFIELD. v "The people who take pleasure out of trotting are in my opinion in ,the same category as those who play golf," I said Mr. Mawson, in reply to a Question. "They should be prepared to go further afield. They could, afford it, and this would leave room to provide recreational facilities for numbers of other people." Trotting club representatives pointed out that the trotting track was used by the club only seven days in the year, and was open to the public for the rest of the time. On those seven days, said Mr. A. Anderson, more people used the park than in all the rest of the year. The club was providing numbers of people with legitimate sport, and entertainment. Mr. J. August (president of the Trotting Club): Can the committee give us any security of tenure, if we agree to gpend money on the suggested improvements? A committee member: We cannot give ourselves any security. Mr. August then said that he, like other members of the club, wanted to put the club into the metropolitan class as in regard to accommodation. If there was anything the club could do, it would fall in line with the Hutt Park committee. Its funds, however, were limited. Mr. Mawson expressed the opinion that the club would be well advised owing to the lack of training accommodation in the district, to go. further afield. If, however, it had security of tenure, for, say, 50 years, it should have little difficulty in raising the necessary money for improvement. He did not think there was any risk of the Hutt Park or any other recreational area in the district being taken for any other purpose. Land in the Valley had been built- on with phenomenal speed, and they had to act quickly, or lose for all time the opportunity of providing recreational facilities on the 'basis of 7£ acres for 1000 people. I In answer to a question as to whether, if the committee agreed to the erection of temporary stands with the present tenure of ten years, the club ; would be satisfied until the consideration of the larger scheme, Mr. August replied that it would. He was of the 'opinion that the cost of shifting the track itself would be prohibitive. It was decided to wait on the Minister of Lands in regard to tenure of the park by the club.