Land purchase goes to the dogs
It’s happy days for dogs - with the securing of over five hectares of woodland for the community.
The Friend’s of Roland’s Wood Charitable Trust have managed to secure the 5.4 hectare block of land dubbed Lavender’s Land that neighbours Roland’s Wood in Kerikeri.
It will also become an official dog park.
‘‘It’s fantastic, it has almost surprised us how much community support we have received,’’ Chairman Simon Upperton says.
The official opening ceremony of Lavender’s Land (at the bottom of Heron Hill) will be held on December 9 at 2pm, with mayor John Carter officiating.
Upperton says the event will be relatively short, but every man and his dog is welcome.
A combination of a bank loan of $186,000 and a private loan of $250,000 has helped to secure the $500,000 piece of land which will also be settled on December 9.
A further $84,000 was received in the form of community donations and grants.
The extra $20,000 left over will go toward interest costs.
Roland’s Wood was bequeathed to the Far North District Council in 2001 by Roland Sansom with a further 5.4 hectares left to his sister Lavender, who has since died.
Upperton says her estate were ‘‘friendly’’ about the time required to secure the funds to purchase the land.
‘‘This will be gifted to the community effectively, we are really excited, now it’s getting community ideas for what they would like.’’
Potential additions to Laven- der’s Land could include a playground and a walking bridge, with car and coach parking planned.
‘‘We will develop some native planting and create more diversity as well as expanding what we have for dog lovers.’’
He says the long-term goal is to establish both Roland’s Wood and Lavender’s Land as one big parkland.
Now the work begins to settle the $436,000 debt.
While the trust can fall back on selling off some sections to service the debt, they are hoping to sell the minimum possible, Upperton says.
Trust Treasurer Robyn Terlesk says the park will be a great asset for Kerikeri and hopes they won’t have to sell any sections to service the debt.