Council issues leaflet drop to subdue sale angst
A town-wide protest is unlikely to halt the sale of a Bulls reserve, as officials take steps to reassure disgruntled residents.
Rangitı¯kei District Council has carried out a leaflet drop in the town detailing the pending sale of Haylock Park and why the decision was made.
The flyer intended to cut through conjecture in the town over the intentions for the land and the level of public consultation carried out.
A recent survey presented to the council showed 376 residents opposing the sale, and 19 people supporting it. About 120 people also attended a community barbecue rallying support to retain the park.
The late Owen Haylock contributed to the public purchase of the 1-hectare block of land on the outskirts of Bulls in 1986. His family claim he did so with the hope it would be developed for recreational purposes. Instead, part of it was fenced and leased to farmers to graze stock.
The council earmarked the park for sale three years ago, with the proceeds to go towards the $5.2 million Bulls Community Centre.
It will now be sold to developers for housing.
The leaflet to residents said the decision to lease the space to farmers was made by the now-defunct Bulls Community Council, not the district council. Its intention was to accumulate funds for the park’s development, but only $29,000 had been raised.
Although the size of the park allowed for a range of recreational facilities, this would require considerable investment of external funding and a likely rates rise.
A cost analysis for developing the park was never looked at and the expected rates revenue from the new houses would bring in about $40,000 each year.
Surviving records about the purchase
The late Owen Haylock contributed to the public purchase of the 1-hectare block of land on the outskirts of Bulls in 1986. His family claim he did so was with hope it would be developed for recreational purposes.
of the land in 1986 suggest there was always an understanding the land would be needed for housing, with the potential to expand further north.
The Rangitı¯kei County Council was involved in the subdivision of surrounding land in 1976 which created 24 residential sections.
The flyer also said Haylock was an advocate for Bulls, who wanted to see the town grow.
‘‘He contributed about two-thirds of the total cost, but he never owned any of the land. Records show he did not want to be publicly acknowledged for his generosity.’’
When the matter was first raised in 2017, there were discussions with the Haylock family, some of whom opposed the council’s plans.
The community was consulted during that year’s annual plan process, when 94 submitters were in favour of the sale and 25 were against it.
The consultation document at the time made it clear the the council’s motivation for the sale was to fund a new community centre on Criterion St, and increase the availability of land for housing, the flyer said.