The Vincent Community Board voted at its meeting on Monday (June 12) to approve the draft Omakau and Ophir Reserves Management Plan 2023 and notify the plan for public submissions.

The board had decided in July 2022 to prepare and notify a draft Reserve Management Plan for the Omakau Recreation Reserve. 

“When drafting, it made sense to include all the reserves in Omakau and Ophir in that plan,” Central Otago District Council parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey said.

That includes the Omakau Recreation Reserve; the Wilson St Reserve, Omakau; the Ophir Recreation Reserve; and the Ophir Ice Rink. 

The Omakau Recreation Reserve would also be the site for the proposed Omakau Community Hub, replacing the existing rugby clubrooms and camping ground kitchen. The draft plan suggests the best location for a camping ground kitchen is adjacent to the existing camping ground facilities. 

The board recently approved funding of the new facility in the Long-Term Plan of up to $1M with one third each coming from a loan, a reserve fund contribution and the general reserve.

In her member’s report during the meeting, board member Tracy Paterson said plans for the Omakau hub were “progressing really well and a lot of work  is being done behind the scenes”.

She also told an anecdote regarding the now-unused Ophir Ice Rink of local school children raising funds to expand the rink, and a dozer becoming bogged in the wet ground.

“It’s a really cool part of our history,” she said.

The 64-page draft plan seeks to ensure that there is no duplication of effort and resources in the individual recreation areas, and to encourage a collaborative relationship between all stakeholders.

The plan will be open for public submissions for two months, with a hearing to be held in August if submitters wish to speak to their submissions.