Dear Tim
 
We have received your enquiry regarding reasoning for why Council decided
to not progress the dog park at Swap Park in Matamata.
 
Your request will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 ("Act"). As
required under section 13(1) of the Act we will respond to your request as
soon as reasonably practicable and no later than 20 working days. The
Ombudsmans website calculates this date to be 17 June 2021.
 
If you have any questions relating to your request or wish to clarify any
matters contained in your request please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
 
Kind Regards
Ellie
 
Ellie Mackintosh | Legal Advisor
Matamata-Piako District Council 35 Kenrick Street, PO Box 266, Te Aroha
3342
p 07 884 0060 | w [1]www.mpdc.govt.nz

For up to date Ministry of Health guidelines around COVID-19, please visit
their website [2]www.covid19.govt.nz
Please consider the environment before printing this email
 
 

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Dear Tim
 
Council agreed to not go ahead with the Swap Park for the following
reasons, during the LTP consultation and at the hearing on the 12 May 2021
Council received mixed responses regarding having the dog park at
Matamata. Reasoning from submitters included, alternative uses of the park
would conflict with a dog park, safety issue with it being close to the
helipad and there is an issue around how fencing of the dog park would
work. Council also mentioned their preference for an overall plan for Swap
Park to be completed before they committed to a Dog Park. Some reasoning
is available in the minutes from the hearing, as well a decision document
which will be available online at [1]www.mpdc.govt.nz. All submissions are
also available online.
 
To clarify the purpose of the business case was not to “decide if a dog
park should go ahead”. As landowner and local authority the decision is
Council’s to make. Council is not bound to proceed with a project because
a business case says a project could has merit or could theoretically be
done
 
In regards to the total cost of the consultant that did the work there was
10 hours work to a total of $1,610.
 
If you are dissatisfied with the information received, you have the right,
by way of making a complaint to an Ombudsman (under section 27(3) of the
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987), to seek an
investigation and review of Council’s decision, more information on this
process can be found at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
 
 
Kind Regards
Ellie
 
Ellie Mackintosh | Legal Advisor
Matamata-Piako District Council 35 Kenrick Street, PO Box 266, Te Aroha
3342
p 07 884 0060 | w [3]www.mpdc.govt.nz

For up to date Ministry of Health guidelines around COVID-19, please visit
their website [4]www.covid19.govt.nz
Please consider the environment before printing this email
 
 
_____________________________________________
From: Ellie Mackintosh
Sent: Thursday, 20 May 2021 10:37
To: 'Tim' <[FOI #15511 email]>
Subject: Acknowledgement - LGOIMA - Dog Park at Swap Park Matamata
 
 
Dear Tim
 
We have received your enquiry regarding reasoning for why Council decided
to not progress the dog park at Swap Park in Matamata.
 
Your request will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 ("Act"). As
required under section 13(1) of the Act we will respond to your request as
soon as reasonably practicable and no later than 20 working days. The
Ombudsmans website calculates this date to be 17 June 2021.
 
If you have any questions relating to your request or wish to clarify any
matters contained in your request please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
 
Kind Regards
Ellie
 
Ellie Mackintosh | Legal Advisor
Matamata-Piako District Council 35 Kenrick Street, PO Box 266, Te Aroha
3342
p 07 884 0060 | w [5]www.mpdc.govt.nz

For up to date Ministry of Health guidelines around COVID-19, please visit
their website [6]www.covid19.govt.nz
Please consider the environment before printing this email
 
 

show quoted sections