North - Marlborough

1

Proposal for a secure off-lead Dog Exercise area for Renwick (Dog Park) prepared by

Jane Buckman and Sue Macdonald. May 2017

We wish to speak to this submission

Background: Why has getting to here taken so long?

In 2015’s Long Term Plan submission process we spoke to Councillors highlighting the benefits

to both Dogs and their Owners of access to and use of enclosed Dog Exercise Parks. We

highlighted that through the newly formed Renwick Smart and Connected (RS&C) and in

consultation with our Ward Councillors, Dog Park site identification work had again commenced

in Renwick. The Dog Park concept however was not a new one in Renwick having been raised in

previous Long Term Plan submissions made by the Renwick Residence Association and supported by a resident’s Petition.

So in 2015 a non-sports field site within the boundaries of the Renwick Domain, was identified

as meeting the criteria for a successful fenced dog exercise area. However as we were to later

learn, this space within the Domain was already contracted by MDC as part of the December -

January 2016/17 Scout Jamboree site and therefore was unavailable for use on our project.

Further site investigations recommenced, again through RS&C and with further consultation with our Ward Councillors and MDC’s Animal Control Committee.

A suitable replacement site was identified located at Foxes Island, an area that like the Renwick

Domain still met the needs of the Renwick community and the criteria of providing facilities in small town communities. This site was championed in our 2016 submission to the Annual Plan.

We identified that; the Foxes Island Road site was good for Renwick’s dog owners, their dogs

and offers synergies with infrastructure currently located on and near this site (SPCA and

Bike/Walk pathways) and the physical benefits of this particular landscape (wind breaks).

Suggested Foxes Island Road Dog Park Layout (2016):

North

2

The proposed Foxes Island Road site, due to its past use as Renwick’s Rubbish Dump, is listed

with central government as a HAIL site. Therefore a Preliminary Site Inspection report (PSI)

was required to establish the state of the clay capping sealing the area and level of soil

contamination, if any.

PSI investigation work was approved by MDC in July 2016. A report by Mark Davies of

Sustainable Environmental Engineering Ltd. was produced for MDC in August 2016 and this

report was released as a public document in January 2017.

Further investigations are now underway as a result of the Report’s recommendations.

This exploratory work will take time to complete.

Bringing us to April 2017: And still no Dog Park in Renwick.

Again with the aid of our Ward and Animal Control Committee’s Councillors, everyone set out to

find a solution to overcome the enforced delay in establishing use of the Foxes Island Road site.

MDC now have the opportunity to lease a plot of vacant land abutting the Renwick Domain, but

accessed from Inkerman Street North, and in our opinion offers the perfect interim solution.

This land, Lot 3DP343153, No 8 Inkerman Street, is 0.51Ha of empty, flat, grassed paddock

that is fully fenced. Fencing consists of high deer fence wire on the eastern boundary with the

Renwick Domain, regular farm fences on the northern and southern boundaries and a solid high

timber planking fence along the boundary with No 10 to the west. The southern boundary of the

paddock has a stand of poplar trees (on Domain land) offering a measure of additional wind

break. Refer detailed photos and a proposed layout on the following pages.

Overview of the Renwick Domain, Giesen Centre & Dog Park access from Inkerman Street

(No 8 highlighted with a black arrow).

3

ABOVE: Enlarged view of available lease land and the access for Renwick Dog Park, No 8

Inkerman Street (Giesen Centre building in lower RHS).

BELOW: Looking south along eastern boundary with Renwick Domain towards Giesen Centre.

DOG

PARK

SITE

N

SOUTH

4

Below: View from eastern boundary (deer fence) along southern fence to the west (solid wood).

Above: View along the northern boundary (No 8 LHS of fence) across the parking area towards

existing sealed, double lane, driveway access from Inkerman Street north.

WEST

NORTH

HH

5

Below: An Overview of the Renwick Domain & Giesen Centre relative to No 8 Inkerman Street.

Dog Parks (enclosed exercise areas) of various shapes and sizes are a common and successfully

operated feature found throughout the country. Therefore there is no expectation of needing to

“experiment” to get a functioning layout. The knowledge also exists within other Councils and

with their Staff on what constitutes a quality Dog Park exercise area and these good design

practices are reflected in our proposed layout.

The proposed layout on page 6 shows what could be achieved with minimum development cost.

Photographs provided on pages 7-9 show details of an “interlock” gate system as shown in the

layout drawing, an example of a water dispensing/drinking fountain and Doggy Do stations that

is a rubbish bin and bag dispenser station for use in Dog Parks.

The owners of the abutting property, number 10 Inkerman Street, who share the driveway

access into No 8, (see photo on page 4), have been visited and have no objection to the Dog

Park proposal.

There is a water supply point available on site, marked on proposed layout, page 6.

6

Dog Park Layout for No 8 Inkerman Street Renwick – April 2017

7

Example of a Dog Park water station, dual use for Dogs and Owners, located on a hard drained

surface, which could be bark, gravel or ideally a concrete square.

8

Detail of entry gate “air lock” construction

9

Overview of a Dog Park “air lock” double gate entry, Doggy Do bag dispenser station & rubbish

bin structure.

While we are aware that MDC’s Animal Control Sub-Committee has funding to allow the

development of this Inkerman Street site to commence, a facility such as a Dog Park is not

without some ongoing costs such as; weed control, grass mowing, doggy-do bags and site

maintenance of rubbish bins. However these activities are all regularly undertaken next door at

the Renwick Domain, located beside this site.

Therefore securing Council’s commitment to on-going operational budget funding is

essential and one of the reasons we have submitted again and will return to speak

before you.

We had identified a site at Foxes Island that is good for Renwick’s dog owners, their

dogs and offers synergies with infrastructure currently located on and near this site

and the physical benefits of this particular landscape.

However as this site comes with delays while land use issues are addressed, #8

Inkerman Street finally offers us an opportunity to have a functioning Dog Park space

operational within the next few months.

We, through our RS&C Committee have with the help of our Councillors arrived at a

practical, workable, cost effective solution that allows Renwick’s Dog Park

development to finally go ahead. Please give this undertaking your support.