The Thames Coramandel District Council has proposed a change to the District Plan relating to the commercial use of Williamson Park. A “Land Use Consent” application for a proposed 15-year consent to allow events at Williamson Park, has been lodged.
This consent will allow a total of 20 daytime and seven night-time events to be held every year at Williamson Park reserve in Whangamata. The consent is being applied for because the rules relating to festivals and events in the Proposed District Plan have recently been amended. The amendments now require resource consent to be obtained for any event where 500 or more people will gather.
Allowing the commercial use of Williamson Park has the potential to attract people from outside of the district and thus be economically beneficial. However what is concerning is the requirement that a fence be used for those events that attract 500 people or more. This restricts the public’s free use of the park thereby breaching the policy within the Reserves Act 1977.
You are able to “Have Your Say” regarding either your support or opposition to the application for a Land Use Consent. Below is a template that provides an example of a submission in opposition. Please feel free to use this template to create your own submission, or simply use ours.
We believe Williamson Park is for the Whangamata Community and no fences should stand in our way.