​Council first in adoption of new open spaces strategy

Driven by a need to provide for significant growth and the future needs of the Central Otago community, the Council’s first Open Spaces and Recreation Strategy is born.

At today’s meeting (Wednesday 26 February 2025), the Central Otago District Council (CODC) adopted a strategy that has been several years in the making and culminated in a formal public consultation between 7 November and 9 December last year.

The purpose of the strategy was to ensure that the existing open space network meets the future needs of the community. It gave consideration to the Council’s plans to increase greenway networks, provide ‘the right parks and open spaces in the right places’, improve connection between these and residential areas, enhance existing parks and open spaces, upgrade playgrounds, ensure town centres are attractive and vibrant, strengthen relationships with mana whenua, work smarter with other agencies and volunteer groups, work with developers to include opens spaces and connections in their plans, use open spaces to tell our local stories and enhance natural areas under Council control.

In his report, CODC Parks and Recreation Manager Gordon Bailey said feedback on the strategy was positive with some respondents indicating they were proud of the district’s open spaces and park facilities. They wanted connectivity between open spaces and when spatial or residential plans were developed, that open space provision should be made a requirement.

When asked what they did not like about the strategy, most respondents said they wanted more open spaces with associated facilities, and requirements for developers to provide open spaces within their plans.

Physical and mental wellbeing were key motivators for people to get out into the open spaces, and the rising participation in sport was another.

It was noted that some feedback had been captured under existing council policies or was better suited for inclusion in specific reserve management plans. Examples included dogs, which are managed under the Council’s Dog Bylaw and policies, and trees and plantings under the Council’s Tree Policy.

Given this was a new strategy it was recommended that it be reviewed in July 2026 to enable any amendments for unintended consequences.

The Council thanks people for their ideas and feedback.