4 May 2018

A Christchurch City Council Hearings Panel has finishing hearing public submissions on proposed changes to the use of part of Denton Park.

Denton Park

Denton Park in Hornby.

The panel, made up of three Councillors and two Community Board members, considered 1475 written submissions, with 61 submitters requesting to be heard in person.

It will begin its deliberations later this month ahead of making a recommendation on whether the Reserve Act classification on Denton Park should be partly altered, and the Denton Park Management Plan adjusted, to allow a new library, customer service and recreation and sport centre to be built on the south-east part of the park.

Denton Park was identified last year as the preferred location for the new Hornby facilities, which the Council hopes to open in 2020 if the changes are approved.

“We have had great input from the community on the issue of whether the Reserves Act classification on Denton Park should be changed and the submitters have raised many issues for us to consider,’’ says Hearing Panel Chair Councillor Sara Templeton.

“The Hearings Panel is scheduled to reconvene later this month to begin its deliberations and the public are welcome to come along and watch the proceedings,’’ Cr Templeton says.

The panel's recommendation will then go to the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board for a final decision.