Cromwell Community Board Elected Members

08/10/2026

Cromwell Community Board Meeting Tuesday 6 October 2026 Recap.

We had four public forum speakers presenting.

Katie Seymour and Mike May spoke on behalf of Friends of Cromwell Cemetery who have been watching recent developments at the Cromwell Cemetery with interest as they have their own developments they would like to tie in with those works. They wish to construct a rotunda in the Cromwell Cemetery similar to the one that stood there until about 1980. We expect a report to come back to the board on this at a future meeting. Council has delegated authority from the Minister of Conservation to approve buildings on reserve land and local community boards and council recommend such decisions.

Paula Jackson and Doreen Evans presented on behalf of their Splash Pad project. The subsequent paper during the meeting had some more detailed information on the running costs and depreciation which we discussed for a fair while. Ultimately, we recommended to Council that the project should proceed, noting that more work yet will be required by council staff to present funding options and refine the running and depreciation costs. We had already left the prior paper on the table could have done the same again, but in the interests of keeping things moving, we're hoping these numbers will be appropriately improved and refined between now and the Council meeting.

Barbara Emmitt and Helen Scoles presented on behalf of Old Cromwell speaking to parking issues that have arisen since the opening of Te Puna Mahara | Cromwell Memorial Events Centre. They were seeking a mobility park to be moved and more P120 parks around Old Cromwell to prevent day-parking cyclists from blocking up parks that could otherwise be readily used by visitors to old Cromwell. Parking around Te Puna Mahara has had a net reduction in carparking and there's plenty of capacity at Butchers Drive so we'll need to pursue some options to rationalise parking in the area to get the right people in the right parks for the right activities they are doing.

James Dicey spoke with advice on his recommended actions moving forward in relation to the endowment land before we discussed a paper on the same.
The Cromwell Endowment land 'next steps' - which more specifically related to Cromwell's options for mounting a defense to the KC's advice which was sought by Council staff April. In short, Council at a meeting the week prior had made available budget up to $50k to allow the Cromwell Community Board to seek legal advice to then instruct a KC to advise on a determination of who has rights to Cromwell's endowment land. You will probably find that our instruction will be a wider scope to seek recommendations on the best options for installing legal protections on the land and the appropriate legal route for doing so, noting that we have a budget to keep within.

Next meeting is 3rd of November. See you then!

-WS

04/10/2026

Cromwell Community Board Meeting tomorrow 6 October 2026

We have three public forum speakers set to present, being
Katie Seymour and Mike May on behalf of Friends of Cromwell Cemetery who wish to construct a rotunda in the Cromwell Cemetery similar to the one that stood there until about 1980.
Paula Jackson and Doreen Evans will present on behalf of their Splash Pad project and Barbara Emmitt will present on behalf of Old Cromwell speaking to parking issues that have arisen since the opening of Te Puna Mahara | Cromwell Memorial Events Centre.

There are only two formal agenda items - Further information on Cromwell Rotary and Lions proposed Splash Pad project and one on Cromwell Endowment land 'next steps' - which more specifically relates to Cromwell options for mounting a defense to the KC's advice which was sought by Council staff April in relation to whether the wider district should be able to benefit from the proceeds of endowment land.

04/09/2026

Cromwell Community Board Meeting 1st of September 2026.

Firstly, thank you to everyone who attended the meeting in the public gallery and online to show your interest and support for the agenda item on next steps for Cromwell's Endowment land.

Much has been said about the Endowment Land next steps in the couple of days following the meeting and there will be more to come. In short, the paper presented to the Board was not appropriate or adequate to be making decisions on. We have instructed council staff to work with us to develop the thinking toward the likely next steps in gaining legal clarity on the status of our endowment land in the next month where we will again discuss the matter at the start of October.

There were other items on the agenda too!

A storage shed has been built out the back of the Bannockburn Hall on local purpose reserve that requires retrospective approval from Council via a recommendation from the Board. This was an easy one for us to approve. Interestingly, this highlights perhaps an unintended consequence of buildings not requiring resource consent, as the building consent process would have highlighted the land status in the usual processing routine.

We received a report on likely sponsorship opportunities for the ops team at Te Puna Mahara - Cromwell Memorial Events Centre to explore to bring other income into the facility. We told the team to think big and get on with it! Naming rights can apply to physical rooms or features within the events centre, single or a series of events and over variable timeframes from hours to years. Events Centre staff will pursue opportunities, but equally this is about being ready for conversations with a baseline in place if an opportunity arises.

As we know, the Gair Ave (and some Barry Ave) trees were resolved to be removed in a prior meeting due to their destructive nature on the surrounding roading, footpaths and private property. We did ask at that prior meeting that a proposed planting plan be prepared prior to the current trees being removed. After much discussion, because it is an emotive topic, we agreed to replace the trees as close as possible to their original positions to eventually achieve the current look and feel for the street.

We approved a community grant for Cromwell Youth Trust for $8,700 to run a school holidays programme from 14-18 December, being a period in the two weeks between the end of the school term and Christmas.

We had exhausted the promotions and events grants earlier in the year and with this $8,700 now granted to CYT, there is a remaining $42k in the grants fund budget for further applications to mid next year.

We also agreed to our meetings schedule next year. With two exceptions, the Cromwell Community Board is sticking to the first Tuesday of the month so get them in your calendar now!

And just to remind everyone, agendas, livestream links and meeting recordings are all readily available online - just search for 'CODC Meetings' in your favourite search engine and you'll soon find what you're looking for.

More again soon!

04/08/2026

Cromwell Community Board Meeting 04/08/2026.

Great day in the XL room overlooking the Kawarau Arm for those who were not completely fixated on the meeting activities. Good turn out in the public gallery, but room for about 100 more if you're keen for next time.

We had four speakers in the public forum.

Paula Clark spoke on behalf of the Cromwell Sports Club to update us on the club's building upgrade plans. All going as planned, they are looking to get construction underway in August next year.

Shona Rae spoke on behalf of her operations at Cromwell Mini Golf, ahead of the paper that was presented in our agenda.

Doreen Evans and Paula Jackson spoke to the Splash Pad proposal that Cromwell Lions and Cromwell Rotary are looking to gift to the Council in perhaps a couple of years time.

David George spoke to the Cromwell Mini Golf paper with some background on the mini golf and other matters generally.

On the Mini Golf lease, the future of the lease and operation has been a bit tentative for a few years now while discussions have been developing on the town centre expansion. Murray Terrace is proposed to be realigned to Isles St as this would maximise council controlled developable land, while also rationalising the iffy intersection of Sargood onto Murray Tce. We're hoping to get NZTA funding to contribute to these works and that position will be better known in a month so we made no hard decisions on the termination of the lease today, rather opting to keep Shona running the attraction through the summer if possible. The realigned Murray Terrace is our shot at having a 'main street' of sorts and we're a while off knowing how all that will play out just yet or what part (if any) the mini golf will play in that in the long term.

The splash pad proposal is an exciting opportunity for our town and quite the valuable gift to receive if everything pans out. The second part of the story however is the ongoing running and maintenance costs. We agreed in principle that the idea is great, but we're seeking some more considered operation costs and we need to know the rates implications if this proposal was to proceed so we'll know more in the coming months and you may even hear more about this in the long term plan perhaps?

We agreed to permit Aurora to run some electrical network extensions through the greenways between Melmore Terrace and the Town Centre.

And we received an update on Council's preparedness for the bird flu which has reached the Wellington Coast so far.

Next meeting is Tuesday the 1st of September. We'll see you at rates review drop in sessions between now and then though and maybe even at the 2nd CromCom at Te Puna Mahara - Cromwell Memorial Events Centre.

Rates Review Community Information Session:
Presbyterian ChurchThursday, 20 Aug. 6pm-7pm
Drop-in: Cromwell Library Monday, 24 Aug. 12.30pm-1.30pm
Drop-in: Tarras School Monday, 24 Aug. 3pm-4pm

Te Puna Mahara | Cromwell Memorial Events Centre Upcoming Events
Cromcom 20th August 7pm with Wilson Dixon and Paul Douglas
Night Market 15th August 4pm
Cromwell Community Board Meeting 1st September
Meet the Candidates (Waitaki and Southland Electorates) Tuesday 8th of September thanks to Business South.

01/08/2026

We've got our next meeting coming up at 2pm on Tuesday the 4th of August. This will be our first Meeting at Te Puna Mahara - Cromwell Memorial Events Centre and will be in the XL Room overlooking the lake. There will be plenty of space for the public to attend.

On the agenda is:
A paper for decision on terminating the lease at Cromwell's mini golf course to enable the realignment of Murray Terrace to Isles St.

A paper for a recommendation to Council on whether the board is supportive of a splash pad being constructed on a Cromwell reserve (location TBC) and vested in Council. Crowell Rotary and Lions would drive the project without seeking a capital contribution from Council, but once vested, the operating costs would sit with Council.

Aurora are upgrading their network throughout Cromwell and as such they are requesting some easement agreements through various greenways between Butchers Drive and the Town Centre.

We're also going to receive a report on Councils response to the H5 HPAI (Bird Flu) outbreak.

Come and see how it goes!

26/07/2026

It's almost been three weeks since our last community board meeting!

We discussed, decided and workshopped the following:

Cromwell Town Centre - Box on with developing concepts for consultation was the basic message. It since transpired at a workshop on the 20th of July that the realignment of Murray Terrace from the mini golf to the Isles St intersection is pencilled in for February 2027. The project group of Sarah, Rebecca and Charlie are meeting on the town centre development more regularly than the Board to keep up the momentum.

Cromwell Bike Park Advertising. The BMX Club has put up some sponsors signs, as a club would do, but strictly speaking that is contrary to the reserve management plan for that area. We had a similar situation with putting a toilet there in the last couple of years. We'll sort out the plan in the fullness of time without creating a fuss in the meantime!

Alpha Street - Future Plan for Decommissioned Waters Building. We agreed for the Cromwell Football Club to take over the old switch room to repurpose as changing sheds. As for the curvy roof structure over the water treatment facility, we will find out this week if Council vote to demolish the asset.

Road Naming Approval Report - 2254 Luggate-Cromwell Road. Not too much discussion on this one - you'll see road signs up for Wildridge Road on the riverside of the road to Wanaka some time soon.

Poultry and Bees in Urban Areas Bylaw - We received a report on this, had a bit of discussion and the bylaw will be out for consultation in due course.

We finished with a public workshop on Te Puna Mahara Operations. We discussed things like ongoing sponsorship opportunities, the types of events that were planned, like the very successful Cromcom on Friday and Jenny Mitchell on Saturday, price points, frequency etc.

The recordings are all on Youtube if you wish to review or give your favourite board member a call to discuss anything in further detail.

The agenda will be out this week for our 4th of August meeting which will be held at Te Puna Mahara | Cromwell Memorial Events Centre! Because why not.

05/07/2026

Not long to go now!

On Tuesday the 7th, the Cromwell Community Board will meet to discuss, decide, direct on the following:

Cromwell Town Centre
Cromwell Bike Park Advertising
Alpha Street - Future Plan for Decommissioned Waters Building
Road Naming Approval Report - 2254 Luggage-Cromwell Road
Poultry and Bees in Urban Areas Bylaw

Then we'll finish with a public workshop on Te Puna Mahara Operations.

Get your tickets to CromCom, Jenny Mitchell and Laser Kiwi!

02/06/2026

Big day for the Cromwell Community Board today.

It all started at 10am where we hosted our elected Councillors around our town centre along with Council staff to discuss the issues and opportunities that lie ahead of us. The town centre project is becoming front and centre again with Te Puna Mahara | Cromwell Memorial Events Centre due for opening next month.

We heard from three people/groups in the public forum.
Michelle and Sheryl from the Bannockburn Recreation Reserve Committee gave us a detailed account of their operation and improvements at the Bannockburn Domain and invited/insisted that the Board come out for a look which we will do.

Carolyn Squires spoke of the concern for the trees coming down at Sandflat Road and the implications that could have on local businesses and residents.

Lisa Telle spoke on behalf of the Cromwell Dogs group Paws for Pines to update us on the formation of their charity and willingness to assist in anything needed to maintain or enhance their ongoing use of the pine trees at Sandflat Road.
Our first formal agenda item for the day was to receive a petition from Cromwell Dogs (Paws for Pines?) with around 20 of the 880 petitioners that are keen to retain the trees at Sandflat Road.
We decided to appoint both Cr Sarah Brown and Rebecca Anderson as Cromwell Community Board representatives to the Project Steering Group for the Cromwell Town Centre to join Charlie Sanders as the Council representative along with Council staff and consultants.

The hardest agenda item for the day by far was the decision to not only retain the Sandflat Road trees until the future use of the land is better known, but effectively close access to the forest to the public, with or without dogs. While this decision was not made lightly, the crux of the issue comes down to the liability that Council would take on by continuing to allow public access to the area, now knowing the potential risks in doing so as described in the reports. It is well accepted that the plantation poses minimal risk in calm conditions, but in windy conditions and after wind events the ongoing burden on Council as the land owner to close the forest intermittently during wind events and monitor risks on an ongoing basis is too greater burden. The Board and Council appreciates the need for safe and suitably sized dog exercise areas and encourage dog owners to avoid Council forestry plantations while an alternative site is determined.

In the public excluded session we discussed a road legalisation and associated compensation of the land to the owner. In short, Bannockburn Road has been formed over private land for decades and we’re legally resolving the issue. You won’t notice anything on the ground.

We also discussed a further sale of industrial land – all will be shared in the fullness of time.

A public workshop was held on swimming pool usage and the opportunity or conflict between private and council run swim schools. Council is looking to formalise how private swim schools are managed and charged alongside an ever growing council swim school offering. The Council hold detailed usage data on the utilisation of the pool. It was an interesting discussion on balancing a free market and imposing council policy. We’re not getting more lanes any time soon so we need to ensure we’re maximising the usage of the lanes we’ve got.

And we finished the day with a workshop on the upcoming rates review. There is a lot to consider with how the rates take is calculated. This is not necessarily about increasing the level of rates taken, but how they are taken. One thing we know is that there will be change – three waters is moving to another entity for one. Time to start thinking about uniform annual general charges, targeted rates, and land value vs capital value!

Please get involved in the public consultations currently underway on the future for local government and the residents opinion survey – and turn your lights on in the fog!

Next meeting is the 7th of July. For agendas, minutes, livestream links and recordings, just search for “CODC Meetings”.

-WS

28/05/2026

Cromwell Community Board meeting next Tuesday 2nd June.

Three Public Agenda Items, Two Workshops, Two Confidential Reports.

The day is going to start with a workshop on the Cromwell Town Centre. This is a joint exercise between the CCB and Council.

We're receiving a report (petition) from Cromwell Dogs.

There's another report on the Sandflat Road trees with more professional advice attached. Worth a read to better understand the matter.

And we'll be appointing a CCB Member to the Town Centre Steering Group which will also include a couple of council staff members and a Councillor.

Confidential reports will be presented on the sale of land within the Bannockburn Road pending industrial subdivision and for a legalisation over Bannockburn Road out past Bannockburn.

We'll close out the day with public workshops on the rates review and private swim schools.

Plenty on!

18/05/2026

You might have noticed some trees coming down at Lowburn. Here's the notice from LINZ of the planned works.

We’ll be carrying out some important tree maintenance at the Lowburn freedom camping site following the Easter school holidays. This includes removing a few damaged trees and pruning others🌲

If you’re camping at Lowburn during this time, you may be asked to move temporarily so our team can work safely. Please also expect some noise and minor disruption.

Keen to camp somewhere else? Nearby freedom camping sites include:

Bendigo
Jacksons Inlet
Ch*****ne Gully

These are all on SH8 near Cromwell, more information is available here 👇
https://www.linz.govt.nz/products-services/camping-areas/camping-areas-central-otago-and-south-canterbury

Work is expected to start late April and take two weeks to complete, weather permitting. Thanks for your patience while we get this mahi done 🙏

Please note, the image shows where work is planned to occur, not all trees in the highlighted areas will be worked on 💚