Minogue Park plans anger dog lovers, residents

Dog lovers and residents have accused Hamilton City Council of "paving paradise to put up a parking lot" during public submissions over changes to Forest Lake's Minogue Park.

The council plans to create four sports fields and two cricket ovals which would reduce the park's open spaces and dog exercise areas. Two car parks and new roads to cater for the extra sporting traffic are also part of the draft Minogue Park management plan which concerned some of the 14 submitters, most of whom were against the development, at Wednesday's community and environment committee.

But parks and gardens manager Bill Featherstone said the 44-hectare park, which is already home to the Hamilton City Netball Centre, Hamilton BMX Club, Hamilton Model Engineers Club, Waterworld Te Rapa and Lake Rotokaeo, was bought in the 1980s for both passive and active recreation.

The land designated for the new playing fields had been especially levelled for them but no funding had been allocated for the development in the 10-year long-term council community plan.

The project had been put off because of cost. But Tracy Wilde of the Hamilton Dog Obedience Club and SPCA said a reduced off-lead area for dogs would cause problems for the community.
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