Stanley Park Reserve Next Steps
Council moves a step closer to much-needed housing in Tokoroa
Much-needed housing in Tokoroa is a step closer following a South Waikato District Council decision today to proceed with a formal application to the Department of Conservation (DOC) for partial revocation of Stanley Park.
Council is applying to change the use of part of Stanley Park and sell it for community and affordable housing to help meet the significant housing need in the town. The balance of the reserve would be retained for open space and to develop an inclusive playground.
Council has considered submitters’ views and objections raised during formal consultation and at the Hearings and Deliberations meeting and has determined that partial revocation of Stanley Park for community and affordable housing offers greater benefits to the community than retaining it all as reserve.
As such, Council will now proceed with an application to DOC for partial revocation of Stanley Park, as is required under the Reserves Act 1977.
If the application to DOC is successful, it will enable Council to subdivide the land into residential sections and then sell them to a developer to build 19 much-needed homes. These will be a mix of community and affordable housing. Council will also develop a new inclusive playground and toilets on the remainder of Stanley Park.
Social housing is in high demand in the district, with147 applicants requiring a total of 261 bedrooms in the South Waikato, according to the Ministry of Social Development Housing Register (December 2023).
A new road and footpath will be formed using the current Council-owned 20 Manaia Street site to increase the reserve’s street visibility and safety of users and provide improved access to the playground and the new homes.
Council will involve the community, whānau and most importantly, local children in the design of the playground to make sure it meets their needs and provides a fun, accessible space to play.
Council received 45 submissions on the proposal during formal consultation from 24 January to 23 February. Seven of the submissions were from organisations and one was from Council's iwi partner Raukawa. Three people spoke to their submissions at the Hearings and Deliberations meeting on 14 March.
Council's Reserve Management Plan sets out housing as one of the specific reasons that Council will consider selling open space. Currently, Stanley Park is under-utilised. It is a large park with no additional facilities. There are five other parks near to Stanley Park, that support Council’s Level of Service of 9ha of open space per 1,000 residents.
Council anticipates the decision from DOC could take several months.
More information about Stanley Park development is available on our website here: https://www.southwaikato.govt.nz/our-council/major-projects/stanley-park.
The Stanley Park Reserve Revocation Report April 2024 and a recording of the Council Meeting 24 April is available on our website here: https://www.southwaikato.govt.nz/our-council/agenda-and-minutes/live-streaming.
Issued by Brooke Sullivan, Communications Advisor
on behalf of the South Waikato District Council, Torphin Crescent, Tokoroa.
Phone: 07 885 0720 Email: brooke.sullivan@southwaikato.govt.nz
Inquiries should be directed to Ross Provan, Project Manager
Phone: 07 885 0340 Email: ross.provan@southwaikato.govt.nz