Pegasus Post: June 29, 2023

Thursday June 29 2023 3
More thefts threaten to put an
end to trust’s garden project
THIEVES CONTINUE to strike
at the Woodland Playground in
Rawhiti Domain.
Rawhiti Domain Charitable
Trust chair Cathy Baker said the
latest blow – the theft of
two substantial trees –
made her consider giving
up on the project.
The idea of the gardens
was to redevelop an area
of the domain which
had become neglected.
She said the trust has
made sure the area and
equipment is accessible
for disabled and neuro-diverse
children after parents mentioned
many other playgrounds did not
Cathy
Baker
cater for children with special
needs. The garden is funded by
charitable donations.
Earlier this year a disability nest
swing was stolen from the park.
Mayor Phil Mauger’s
family charitable foundation
stepped in to replace it. The
swing has been ordered.
Mauger’s construction
company funded the
initial construction of the
playground several years ago.
Baker said the thefts have
been constant since the start
of the project, with plants and
play equipment being stolen
She said the recent theft of two
five-year-old jacaranda trees felt
like the final straw.
“It’s actually heartbreaking
really. When two Sundays ago I
discovered the jacarandas were
missing, I couldn’t breathe. I just
thought this is it, this is the end.
Why bother?
“To steal from children, that’s
the lowest of the low.”
She said they are now trying to
raise funds to set up monitored
security cameras and have set up a
Givealittle page to raise funds.
Baker said some of the items
were spotted up for sale on social
media sites.
She said the information
was passed on to police, but the
items were not able to be retrieved.
GONE: This nest swing designed for disabled children
was stolen from Rawhiti Domain.
CATCH: The city council
animal management team
will try to provide additional
patrols in the QEII area.
PHOTO: NEWSLINE
Signs wanted to warn dog owners
•From page 1
Hewison plans to put a
dog control motion to the
community board at its next
meeting.
The motion will request city
council staff erect signs at QEII
Park notifying dog owners of
their responsibilities and commit
to regular animal management
patrols to help improve
compliance.
Hewison hopes to do the same
in other areas with dog traffic.
He decided to act after seeing
Wilkie Street’s
post about the
attack on the
New Brighton
community
Facebook page.
“It’s not the
first time this has
Alex
Hewison
happened.”
The city council
dog control bylaw
requires owners to have their
dogs under ‘effective control’ in
public spaces.
The council defines ‘effective
control’ as owners being, “aware
of where the dog is and what
it is doing, ensure the dog
is responsive to commands,
and ensure it is not creating a
nuisance.”
Hewison said, “there needs
to be more communication
between council and dog owners
around what being under
effective control actually is.”
Hopeful his motion will
have full support, Hewison
said board members are,
“quite concerned about dog
management and dog control on
our beaches and our parks and
also our community.”
Community board chair Paul
McMahon said he is likely to
support any dog control proposal
at the next meeting.
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