This site is Council’s preferred location for the new playground development.
Located within the Waiouru Military Camp on land owned by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Council has been offered the site on a $0 peppercorn lease basis.
This is a large area on a well-maintained gentle slope which offers room for future expansion of the playground if wanted. There are existing pathways which offer connectivity to other public spaces and amenities such as shops, a community hub, the swimming pool, doctors surgery and early education centre.
A smaller playground is located next to the proposed site and a large skate park across the road. There is an opportunity for the exisiting playground to be relocated to another site in discussion with the Steering Committee and NZDF.
The surrounding local roads to this site are speed limited to 30km/hr and 15km/hr providing a safer surrounding environment.
There is existing parking available near the site and two large trees bordering the site which will offer shade on hot days.
There are public toilets across the road at the community hub and a small supermarket - 4 Square. Two picnic tables, a bench seat and a rubbish bin are currently located around the existing playground.
NZDF will maintain the playground area meaning there will be no increased levels of service costs to ratepayers.
NZDF has also stated they are willing to support the foundational and construction work which is an expensive part of the build. This offer is a significant benefit to this site as the feasibility study found that the available $120,000 budget was inadequate to fully develop any of the sites and further funding needs to be found. NZDF contributing toward the foundational and construction work improves the site viability and would mean more of the budget could go toward playground equipment.
The approximate costs* for civil site works and professional services fees is $185,000 which leaves a short fall in budget of $65,000.
