Park sale raises green space concern

Parkvale resident Athena Galyer is opposed to Hastings District Council plans to sell off part of Windsor Park, including the Sylvan Rd Netball Courts, for residential development. Photo/Warren Buckland

Hastings District Council is progressing plans to sell part of Windsor Park for residential development but the plan has some Parkvale residents concerned about housing intensification and the loss of a large green space in the suburb.

The council first signalled the possible sale of the Sylvan Rd Netball Courts - in the western corner of the park - back in 2008.

As part of plans to develop and fund the Regional Sports Park, the council identified that $1.45 million of asset sales would be needed as part of the $19.6 million project.

It undertook community consultation over the specific surplus assets to be sold and the Sylvan Rd courts were identified as being a potential option because new netball facilities were to be developed at the new sports park.

The area proposed for sale and residential subdivisions makes up 1.8ha of the park's total area of 27ha.

The area earmarked for sale is next to Splash Planet and as well as the courts, it includes the Splash Planet depot, which would be moved.

Albert St resident Athena Galyer, whose home backs onto the park, said while the council had sent letters to close neighbours of the park, and details were in the council's draft annual plan, she wanted the sale proposal to be more widely publicised so the community could get "a lot more support keeping the park for the people".

The council had previously advised Parkvale residents planning changes would allow higher density housing in the suburb "and then they want to take a park away, well you can't do that," she said.

"It's really important and the people really need to start fighting back for their park."

Residents have until May 11 to lodge submissions on the proposal through the annual plan process.

Netball goalposts from the Sylvan Road courts were moved to new courts at the Regional Sports Park.

The sports park has also become the administrative centre for netball's regional association, Hawke's Bay Netball.

Hawke' Bay Netball's operations manager, Tina Arlidge, said the association was happy with the better quality playing facilities at the new venue, which had allowed it to combine Napier and Hastings competitions.