Not one, not two, but potentially three 'destination' children's playgrounds for Dunedin

Nicole Reporter from Dunedin News

A trio of “destination” children's playgrounds similar to Christchurch’s Margaret Mahy playground could be built in Dunedin.

The Dunedin City Council will meet next week – via audiovisual link – to debate options as part of its draft plan as it tries to keep a 6.5 per cent rate rise for 2022-23.

In May last year the council decided to support, in principle, the development of a new destination children’s playground.

A consultant was commissioned to assess Dunedin’s current play spaces – defined as having playground amenities and supporting infrastructure – and to provide examples of other relevant New Zealand destination play spaces.

Marlow Park, Woodhaugh Gardens and Mosgiel Memorial Gardens were identified as the parks that best fitted the definition of a destination play space, but all had some deficiencies.

Marlow Park, more commonly known as “the Dinosaur Park”, was considered old and outdated compared to modern standards, while lacking equipment for older children.


Woodhaugh Gardens had a lack of all-weather surfaces, while Mosgiel Memorial Park had an inefficient use of space.

A new destination would require a larger financial investment, and that was not recommended.

The report noted that Christchurch’s Margaret Mahy play space was completed in 2015 at a cost of $4 million, while Auckland’s Kopupaka play space, which opened last year, cost $6m.

The council were presented with three options, including either using a new greenfields site, making one destination playground, or investing in all three current destination play spaces.

That last option would result in each major city catchment area receiving investment in a destination play space.

The council’s current 10-year plan includes budgets for minor renewal and upgrade work at each of the three destination play spaces.

Maidstone Max is being touted as a regional attraction for Upper Hutt following its rebuild, that includes accessible features so it can be enjoyed by wheelchair users.

But to raise the quality of the facilities to an appropriate standard, the report estimated a capital investment of $4m to $6m spread across the three destination play spaces would be required.

The council will also discuss funding options for kerbside recycling after it previously resolved to adopt targeted rates funding for collection bins, plus an opt-in garden waste bin funded via fees and charges.

That led to a report outlining options for a flat and progressive targeted rate for kerbside collection.

The report noted that Dunedin’s proposed kerbside collection plan was similar to that of Auckland, which limited the volume available for general waste while increasing access to diversion services.

A key component to that plan would be “pay as you throw” technology, effectively meaning residents would only pay for bin collections when needed and incentivised the reduction of household waste.

No options were presented to the council.