Churchill Park Ngahere Enhancement
Consultation has concluded
Feedback and what happens next
A total of 69 responses were received through the AK Have Your Say platform. An additional seven responses were sent to the dedicated email address. Overall, the feedback was very positive, with 85.5% of respondents supportive of the proposal. A full feedback summary report is available here.
Feedback was presented to Ōrākei Local Board in September 2022. The Local Board has approved amending the planting plan as described in the table and updated planting plan below.
Resource consent for the proposal is intended to be lodged in October/November 2022.
| Feedback | Amendment to planting plan |
| The plan does not show which areas will be planted first | The resource consent application will describe that the native trees are the priority, followed by exotic specimen trees. |
| Location of Oak grove reduces usable grazing area, is exposed and is difficult to access. Planting and maintaining trees will be expensive. | The Oaks have been moved to the Kinsale roadside outside the stock-fenced area and further south behind a shelterbelt. |
| Concern that the fruit orchard outside the school will reduce visual interaction the school children have with cattle. | The fruit orchard has been moved slightly north to triangle area within same paddock. |
| Proposed orchard location below the former golf club house removes holding paddock used by grazier during cross country events. | This area of orchard has been removed from the planting plan. |
| Churchill Park School has four syndicates; Kauri, Rimu, Kowhai and Pohutukawa. It would be great to see all four trees planted close to the school. | The planting plan has been amended to add all four trees near Churchill Park School. |
| The stream near the bowling club exit has been neglected and planting around that area will protect the waterways from runoff. | Riparian species have been added to this area. Riparian planting has also been extended to the northeast opposite the path near stands 2a and 2b to acknowledge that this area is an ephemeral stream. |
| Avenue trees will reduce feeling of open pasture for walkers. | No change as requested by the board. |
About Churchill Park
Churchill Park is a large public reserve in Glendowie.
It is home to open grassed areas, native vegetation and several groups of 80-100 year old pine trees.
Buildings in the park include a:
- playcentre
- guide hall
- scout halls
- tennis club
- bowling club.
The park is used for a range of activities including:
- recreation
- grazing cattle
- off-leash dog walking
- walking tracks.
What we proposed
We would like to improve the urban ngahere (forest) cover at Churchill Park.
First, we proposed to remove five groups of mature Monterey pine (pinus radiata) trees. This will happen over a three to five year period.
[figure-1]
Many of these pines have reached the end of their expected life span, with a number of them dying or falling each year.
The management of the pines is becoming increasingly difficult, and the situation presents a unique opportunity to transition the pine stands to a mixture of native and exotic trees.
The current replanting activities under the pines are limited due to the risk of trees falling on the planting areas. However, if the pines were removed, extensive planting of both native and exotic plants could be safely undertaken. This would provide a number of environmental benefits to the park and local neighbourhood.
At the same time, we will remove weeds and pests from the area.
We will also build new fences to ensure cattle are kept in the right place.
[figure-2]
What we asked for your feedback on
We asked for your feedback on the proposal to remove the aged pine trees and plant new native and exotic trees in Churchill Park.
We also wanted to know:
- your feedback on the timing of the removals
- what you thought of the concept planting plan
- whether you would like to be involved in community planting days on the park.
When you could have your say
You could have your say from 9am on 9 May until 5pm on 3 June 2022.
How you had your say
- By completing the online survey
- Filling out a hard copy of the survey at the St Heliers Library.
- By attending our online information session on Tuesday 17 May from 2pm to 3pm.
