Jellie Park slides project supported

Press, 5 July 1983, Page 9

Jellie Park slides project supported

The Waimairi District Council has accepted a proposal by Graeme McGaw, Ltd, of Burnside, to build three water slides at Jellie Park, costing $251,495. A meeting of the council’s works, reserves, and traffic committee last evening approved the proposal, which was recommended by its recreation planning and development sub-committee. The sub-committee asked for immediate approval so that Mr McGaw could make arrangements to ship material from Australia in time for the slides to be built before the start of the swimming season. The proposal is subject to finance being available and the acceptance of certain details by the District Commissioner of Works. Concern about future carparking needs prompted the council to also resolve to provide for additional parking within 12 months of the council’s being advised by its staff of such a need. The council also approved spending of $20,000 for landscaping and related costs at the Jellie Park complex. The council decided last

March to raise a $250,000 loan for the Jellie Park improvement proposals. Tenders for the slides were called in April but were rejected. The council then put forward its own design for a tower and modified its requirements. Discussions were then held with the original tenderers and another interested party, and Mr McGaw’s proposal was recommended by the sub-committee. Mrs R. Goldsmith, the pool manager, said that she was sure that pool patronage would double once the slides were in use. She expected that about half the patrons would use the slides.

The chairman of the recreation planning and development sub-committee. Cr Margaret Murray, said that in the last 12 months much thought had gone into the project and the staff should be congratulated on their effort. There was a need for such a facility on the western side of Christchurch. Jellie Park had been costing ratepayers' money and it was time that it started paying for itself. “It would be irresponsible if we as a council did not move to make sure it paid its way," she said. Cr R. W. Skjellerup said that he had had reservations about the financial side of

the project, but it now appeared' that it would be viable if certain assumptions about patronage were made. It would be an asset for social reasons as well as financial ones. Cr I. Calvert successfully moved that council staff investigate how the park management plan could be altered to provide parking if the council should lose its proposed site, which it intends to lease from the North Canterbury Hospital Board. He also successfully moved that a review committee investigate the Hospital Board land with a view to providing planning protection if possible.