Tokoroa reserve eyed up for affordable housing

Monday, 4 December 2023

The South Waikato District Council wants to turn Stanley Park into a new affordable housing project and inclusive playground.

The South Waikato District Council is proposing to sell part of a suburban park in Tokoroa so affordable social housing can be built there.

Councillors have decided to consult locals about the proposal which would see up to 19 new homes, an inclusive playground, toilet block, and small carpark built on Stanley Park reserve in central Tokoroa.

The council’s head of economic and community development Paul Bowden said Stanley Park was considered an ideal location for much-needed housing.

Stanley Park in central Tokoroa is large but not well used, the council says.

“It’s a large park but it is currently not well used and doesn’t have any additional facilities.”

Bowden said the provision of housing, and in particular, social and affordable housing, was an issue across the entire South Waikato, and specifically in Tokoroa.

In 2021, the council reviewed its reserve land portfolio to identify if there were any opportunities to use council-owned land for housing.

The review found there were five parks in northern Tokoroa which supported the council’s commitment to having 9ha of open space per 1000 residents.

So far, feedback has been positive, says South Waikato District Mayor Gary Petley.

“Freeing up some of the park for housing and adding an inclusive playground along with accessible toilets would provide for two needs – more housing in our town and improved recreation spaces for people of all ages and abilities,” Bowden said.

He said there was potential for 19 new homes, but it was too early to say exactly what they would look like other than the focus being on two and three-bedroom homes, which was where the most need had been identified.

The inclusive playground would also welcome children and families of all abilities and disabilities to learn, play and grow together.

One of two entrances to Stanley Park in Tokoroa where a new housing development is being proposed.

Mayor Gary Petley said early feedback from partners and stakeholders had been positive.

He said the council had engaged with organisations including Raukawa, Tokoroa Council of Social Services, South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services Trust, Tokoroa Kāhui Ako, local police, Kāinga Ora and other community housing providers to better understand their needs and their initial thoughts on developing more houses in the district.

“Further engagement is necessary around the reserve revocation process that council must now follow,” he said.

Council will be going through a revocation process for a portion of the reserve, required under the Reserves Act 1977.

Council staff have contacted the park’s immediate neighbours to share its proposal and respond to any questions they may have, and will consult the wider community about its plans early next year.

The council’s parks and reserves manager Phil Parker said the inclusive playground was already part of the council’s Long Term Plan and had already gained government funding to support the development of housing and “provide a much higher quality inclusive playground with additional amenities, including accessible toilets”.

“We’re also keen to involve the community, whānau and importantly, local children in the design of the playground to make sure it meets their needs and provides a fun, accessible space to play,” he said.