North Canterbury News: February 24, 2022

NEWS
North Canterbury News, February 24, 2022
Start made on aboretum at Millton Park
19
By SHELLEY TOPP
Work has begun on an arboretum
planned for Rangiora’s Millton
Memorial Park.
The arboretum is part of the
Waimakariri District Council’s new
development plan for the River Road
park approved by the Rangiora­Ashley
Community Board last July.
Anumber of existing pine trees, which
were considered unsafe, have been
removed from the arboretum site.
The remaining trees will be pruned
and the site tidied in preparation for
planting the first new trees this coming
winter.
The development also includes an
extension to the Rangiora Dog Park for
anew dog agility area, apublic toilet, an
area earmarked for the relocation of the
North Canterbury Model Railway Club,
and apath network.
The project manager, Grant Stephens,
who is the council’s parks and
recreation design and planning team
leader, says there is currently $135,000
allocated in council's Long Term Plan
and an additional $35,000 allocated from
the Rangiora­Ashley Community
Board’s general landscaping budget, for
the project.
‘‘The Board allocated their
contribution to enhance the aesthetic of
this main entrance into Rangiora as part
of their overall view of enhancing their
town entrances’’’ he says.
‘‘This project will also add benefit to
the community and anumber of
community groups who use it.’’
The arboretum will provide an
opportunity for large specimen trees to
be planted and displayed which is often
difficult in urban environments.
‘‘It will also have apositive
environmental impact, help enhance
connectivity to the wider Ashley­
Rakahuri Regional Park trails and also
offer knowledge and insight to visitors
about the species which grow in our
district and the wider world,’’ Grant
says.
‘‘The Rangiora Dog Park is already
renowned as alocation across
Canterbury for walking dogs and the
agility area will add to that public
profile and cater for avast number of
users.’’
The council has been working with a
number of community groups who are
keen to be involved with the project
ranging from donating trees to helping
with planting days.
Draft master plan ... MIllton Memorial
Park.
IMAGE: SUPPLIED
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