More than 300 people have had their say on a proposal to establish a disc golf course at Rotorua’s Centennial Park.
Rotorua Lakes Council described the feedback as “mixed”.
The proposal is for a free-to-use, nine-hole course to be developed in the southwest corner of Centennial Park.
According to the council’s consultation material, disc golf needs a new home because future logging and research activities could impact its current course within Scion’s tree research park.
Centennial Park was chosen as a destination because its terrain and facilities were considered well-suited to the sport, while remaining free and accessible to the public.
Disc golf is played by throwing a flying disc into a metal basket in as few throws as possible.
The sport has grown steadily in Rotorua over recent years. Council consultation material shows the Scion course recorded 276 rounds played by 92 individuals in August alone, making it the busiest recorded course in the Bay of Plenty.
Rotorua Disc Golf chairman Mathias Sorieul said making a Centennial Park course would help secure the future of disc golf in Rotorua.
“Centennial Park will serve as a family-oriented, beginner-friendly course designed to introduce local kids and new players to the sport,” Sorieul said.
Sorieul said affordability and accessibility were some of the sport’s biggest attractions.
“You pay $25 for a disc and you can start playing straight away,” he said.
“When I started, I played with one disc for a whole year.
“I play sometimes with my kids. You don’t need to be good to play this sport. It’s a way to get outside, walk around and be active.”
The proposal has met opposition.
The 20ha Centennial Park, formerly known as the Rotorua Tree Trust, has served as a memorial tree reserve since 1990.
While the trust ceased in 2007 and the park is closed to new memorial tree adoptions, it remains a place of remembrance for many Rotorua families.
On a council social media post asking for feedback on the proposal, some commenters described it as “distressing” and “appalling”.
Mokoia Pony Club is also an established user of the park, operating a cross-country riding course within the reserve.
The club opposes the proposal, saying Centennial Park is already a well-used community space.
A statement from the club’s committee said the park was used by horse riders and walkers, and it had invested significantly in its cross-country course, including jumps and a water jump.
“Introducing disc golf into an area shared by horses, livestock, riders and pedestrians raises genuine health and safety concerns,” the statement said.
“Flying discs, increased foot traffic and course infrastructure could create conflicts with existing users and compromise the safe use of the area.”
The club said it supported recreational opportunities in Rotorua and was not opposed to disc golf, but did not believe Centennial Park was an appropriate location.
“We believe alternative sites should be considered that can accommodate disc golf without compromising the existing farming, equestrian and recreational uses of Centennial Park.”
Sorieul said he had been “surprised” by the level of opposition expressed during the consultation process.
“I thought it would be a good thing for the community because it provides free outdoor physical activity,” he said.
He said the proposed course would avoid the park’s main memorial areas and pointed to “15 years of cohabitation” with dog walkers at the club’s current course.
“There are a lot of interactions, and no one has been injured.”
Sorieul said the sport also had the potential to support Rotorua’s reputation as an outdoor recreation destination.
“If we want to keep our image of being an outdoor city attracting tourism for outdoor activities, maybe we need to develop those outdoor activities.”
A council spokesperson said Rotorua Lakes Disc Golf approached the council about relocating this year.
“[The] council sees value in supporting healthy recreational activities in public spaces, but it was important the community had an opportunity to provide input,” the spokesperson said.
The council had received more than 300 submissions. The consultation period ended on Friday.
“Feedback to date has been mixed,” they said. A “more detailed analysis” of submissions would be available soon now consultation had closed.
According to consultation material, any potential course would use a “memorial-first” approach and be designed to avoid sensitive sites and minimise conflict with existing reserve users.
The spokesperson said the council had facilitated discussions between the disc golf club and pony club as part of the consultation process.
The council is expected to review submissions this month, with a decision due in November.
Mathew Nash is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based at the Rotorua Daily Post. He has previously written for SunLive, been a regular contributor to RNZ and was a football reporter in the UK for eight years.
- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.