RECREATION RESERVE

Southland Times, Issue 21088, 21 May 1930, Page 7

RECREATION RESERVE

SOUTH INVERCARGILL. REPORT TO COUNCIL. The following report on the South Invercargill Domain was presented by the Superintendent of Reserves to the City Council last evening ■ This area of six acres, except for the Commissioner of Crown Lands, has at the present time no controlling body interested in its’ unkeep. The Domain which originally held office and carried out good work has gone out of office and you will have noticed that the South Invercargill Borough Council does not wish to become the Domain Board. This means that the area is thrown back on ths Commissioner of Crown Lands who if he thought fit could advise the selling of the area. The above area I proposed to deal with in a report for the Town Planning Committee dealing with recreation reserves for Greater Invercargill, but the recent circumstances necessitate the matter being brought forward immediately in case this reserve be lost for recreation purposes. I therefore place the following information before you: The area is approximately six acres, fairly well drained and contains the following playing areas; one football, two tennis and a children’s corner. A pavilion for use of football and tennis players is erected and in fairly good order. The area is situated immediately adjoining the city boundary and next to the South Invercargill Town Hall. It is sheltered on the west side by a good macrocarpa hedge. As the portion of South Invercargill surrounding this area must some day be linked with the city and as this reserve is the only large recreation reserve to serve residents living in the vicinity it would be a loss growing more apparent in a few years’ time if the area were split up and sold. The question of it being again controlled by a Domain Board if such could be formed is not in the best interests of the city, since all reserves should be directly under the control of a City's Reserves Department. If arrangements could be made whereby the area could be handed over to the.city by the Crown Lands Department, this in my opinion would be the best means of dealing with it. The city is extending round this reserve and if sold it only means that in a few years' time land may have to be purchased for recreation purposes. The Council decided that the South Invercargill Borough Council be communicated with and advised that it was the council’s intention to make suitable applicatibif to the Lands Department to have the area vested in the council and asking if it had any objection to that being done.