Invercargill City councillors have failed to support Mayor Nobby Clark’s notice of motion to change the reserve status of Donovan Park for future residential land use.
The council recently identified 16 properties around the city that were recommended for disposal, and Mayor Clark has been a strong advocate for selling the 37ha agriculture/events area.
He proposed that council lodge an application with the Minister of Conservation, under the Reserves Act, as a priority application.
Not only would it provide council with additional revenue sources, but also allowed the ICC to address the current housing struggles in the community, “that has been going on for decades.”
Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell also supported the motion, describing it as “an expression of impatience,” and a way to speed up the process.
But Cr Darren Ludlow cautioned it was sending a message to the community about predetermination, alongside the Master Plan for Donovan Park that was going out for public consultation.
“It’s stampeding towards an outcome,” he said.
Chief executive Michael Day said changing the reserve status did not mean that they were disposing of the land, “it just means we have some options.”
Mayor Clark asked that management provide a District Plan report to full council by the September council meeting, that identified the level of housing intensity permitted in the city.
“On the issue of the level of housing intensity permitted in the city, we have asked for this report several times – and given the private sector interest including a joint venture option with SIT – this report is now urgent, alongside what land we are prepared to free up for development,” he said in a report to council.
The report was supported by councillors, but the notice of motion regarding the land use status was lost 8-6.
Michael cautioned that unless council had a very defined purpose and a fully formed position on the land status, it was likely to be declined by the Minister of Conservation.
“Staff already have begun the process in relation to what we are seeking here.”
Mayor Clark said while it looked like he was trying to “push things along,” it was actually council staff that identified two years ago the section of Donovan Park that should be disposed of.