Fifteen ideas to improve Cromwell were offered from the community for the long term future of the area.
The Central Otago District Council (CODC) invited the community to use the Let’s Talk online platform to share ideas of what it wanted the council to consider for the next 10 years and beyond.
The ideas could be something small that might have a big impact or something bigger that needed to be on the radar, given consideration or explored further. It could have been a project that needed financial support or council backing in some other way.
Those who shared ideas could post photos, comment or like other ideas. The platform was open from April 3 until May 1.
Fifty-eight ideas were received from across the district.
CODC projects manager organisational Christina Martin presented a report on the Cromwell suggestions to the Cromwell Community Board last week.
Building a sports hub similar to the Balclutha recreation centre, possibly at the racecourse, was suggested by several people. The council was developing an open spaces strategy and encouraged submitters to take part in the community consultation process when it got under way, Ms Martin said.
Installing bins and dog poo bags at the start of walks to encourage people to clean up after their pets was already being considered by the council.
Cr Sarah Browne said the new green waste bins could take dog waste but not plastic bags, which could be put in a red bin but left the bin smelling bad for two weeks. A way to pick up after a dog that fitted with the council’s waste strategy was something to be considered before offering bags and bins.
Apparent ‘‘quick wins’’ on the report proved to have potential traps.
The first, to install a site for food trucks on the south side of Super Liquor, was not favoured by the board. The proposed site was privately owned and the current site used on Barry Ave was a better site for parking and proximity to sports grounds.
Cr Browne said she would thought food trucks would add vibrancy to the mall redevelopment and would prefer they stayed on the council-managed sites they were using at present.
Adding shade to the Alpha Street park to protect children playing could be included on the park’s delivery programme in the next long term plan, Ms Martin said.
However, CODC parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey said the council was working on a play strategy for all play areas which was due to be completed in the next year and shade was included in that.
Ms Martin said a suggestion for a bike park for Pisa Mooring would have to be a community-led project, which the council would support.
Secure cycle parks were being investigated through the Cromwell Town Centre redevelopment plan.
