Council Meeting Update - Tuesday 25 August
Two decision items in front of elected members at today’s Hurunui District Council meeting were passed, with a dog park amendment agreed for the Grierson Plantation Reserve Management Plan and a decision to keep a First Past the Post (FPP) voting system ahead of the 2028 Triennial Local Government Elections.
The amendment to the Grierson Plantation Reserve Management Plan will help pave the way for a community dog park at the Golf Links Road, Amberley Beach site. The proposal responds to community requests for a South Ward dog park dating back to 2015.
Council Officers have been instructed to finalise detailed site-specific plans and text amendments, and to publicly notify the proposed change in accordance with the Reserves Act 1977.
Council also resolved not to undertake preliminary public notification, given more than three years of community engagement already carried out through the Dog Park Working Group and South Ward Community Board. However formal consultation requirements under the Reserves Act still apply.
South Ward Councillor Pauline White, who has become very familiar with the development of the Dog Park across the years said, "The greatest desire of the South Ward is obviously to have a dog park, so I was really pleased to see this amendment in front of council. The next step of public notification will allow all the people who are in the immediate vicinity as well as the greater community to provide feedback by submission, whether they are in support or in opposition."
Public notice of the draft amendment is expected in September 2026, with submissions and hearings to follow later in the year. The updated Reserve Management Plan is expected to be made operative in early 2027.
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Hurunui District Council has also resolved to retain the FPP electoral system for the 2028 triennial local body elections, rather than changing to the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.
Under the Local Electoral Act 2001, councils are required to confirm their electoral system ahead of the next two triennial elections. Council's decision was informed by historic community engagement indicating a preference for FPP, along with its comparative simplicity and lower administration cost, with STV processing estimated at 20-25 percent more expensive.
Council will publish a public notice by 19 September 2026 advising electors of their right to demand a poll on the electoral system, which requires the support of 5 percent of electors. Should a poll be demanded, it would need to be held by 28 March 2027, at an estimated cost of $20,000-$25,000.
