Newmarket Park
Encyclopedia
Newmarket Park is an approximately 6 ha large park in Auckland
, New Zealand
. It is located in the triangle between three suburbs, northeast of the Newmarket
, southeast of Parnell
and northwest of Remuera
. It is located partially on a higher, manmade plateau, with the remainder of the park dropping steeply down towards Newmarket Stream running to Hobson Bay along the eastern edge of the park.
and as a golf driving range
. After being leased by the Auckland Football Association in 1962, it became the site of New Zealand's national soccer stadium, with many international games played here. However, in 1979 a large landslide
occurred, which took away one of the grandstand
s and part of the playing field. After this, the park fell into disuse, with another large landslip also occurring in 1988.
In the late 1990s, a campaign was mounted by the Newmarket Park Protection Society (now Newmarket Protection Society), which eventually succeeded in ensuring the park was turned into a recreational park with a playground and decorative small lake - rather than being converted into one of many other proposals, which included a cultural theme park, Japanese cultural centre, a bowling green, botanical gardens, rugby fields, driving range or an artificial skifield.
Remediation works
During works in the park in recent years, it was discovered that not only was the slope still at risk of further, large landslips, the area was also partially contaminated from the early rubbish dump use, and it was feared that toxins could eventually leach into the watercourse. As of 2011, Council is still in the progress of a several-year program of rebuilding the slobe in a more permanently stable (slightly less steep) form, after which the landscape will be revegetated, and the parks facilities (which are currently mostly removed or inaccessible) restored, including a local lake. The works are expected to cost $6.2 million.
Some locals have expressed Concern about the large-scale removal of several hectares of trees for the slope stabilisation and landfill remediaion works, and have alleged that Council chose the cheapest option for the works, when other opportunities were available to retain more trees. Council defended the need for the works, while a spokesperson for Forest & Bird
also considered that enough trees would be retained around the cleared areas to reduce impact on local birdlife.
After works started, there was further special concern for the (north)eastern part of the park, along Ayr Street, where locals remain insistent that works should avoid mature trees and tree ferns, some of them 60 to 80 years old. They also allege that the rubbish layers do not extend to this area, based on preliminary works undertaken in the remediation. Council has indicated a willingness to assess this possibility.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is located in the triangle between three suburbs, northeast of the Newmarket
Newmarket, New Zealand
Newmarket is an Auckland suburb to the south-east of the central business district. With its high building density, especially of retail shops, it is considered New Zealand's premier retailing area, and a rival of local competitor Auckland CBD...
, southeast of Parnell
Parnell, New Zealand
Parnell is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is often billed as Auckland's "oldest suburb" since it dates from the earliest days of the European settlement of Auckland in 1841...
and northwest of Remuera
Remuera
Remuera is a residential suburban area within Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the southeast of the city centre...
. It is located partially on a higher, manmade plateau, with the remainder of the park dropping steeply down towards Newmarket Stream running to Hobson Bay along the eastern edge of the park.
History
In the early European history of the area, the gully containing the park and the Slaughter House Creek (now Newmarket Stream) was used as a rubbish dump. In the 1930s, an employment scheme created a flat area on the higher western slop of the gully, approximately half-way up to the railway line. This initially served as an athletics track, and later for midget car racingMidget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
and as a golf driving range
Driving range
A driving range is an area where golfers can practice their swing. It can also be a recreational activity itself for amateur golfers or when enough time for a full game is not available. Many golf courses have a driving range attached and they are also found as stand-alone facilities, especially...
. After being leased by the Auckland Football Association in 1962, it became the site of New Zealand's national soccer stadium, with many international games played here. However, in 1979 a large landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
occurred, which took away one of the grandstand
Grandstand
A grandstand is a large and normally permanent structure for seating spectators, most often at a racetrack. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap all or most of the way...
s and part of the playing field. After this, the park fell into disuse, with another large landslip also occurring in 1988.
In the late 1990s, a campaign was mounted by the Newmarket Park Protection Society (now Newmarket Protection Society), which eventually succeeded in ensuring the park was turned into a recreational park with a playground and decorative small lake - rather than being converted into one of many other proposals, which included a cultural theme park, Japanese cultural centre, a bowling green, botanical gardens, rugby fields, driving range or an artificial skifield.
Remediation works
During works in the park in recent years, it was discovered that not only was the slope still at risk of further, large landslips, the area was also partially contaminated from the early rubbish dump use, and it was feared that toxins could eventually leach into the watercourse. As of 2011, Council is still in the progress of a several-year program of rebuilding the slobe in a more permanently stable (slightly less steep) form, after which the landscape will be revegetated, and the parks facilities (which are currently mostly removed or inaccessible) restored, including a local lake. The works are expected to cost $6.2 million.
Some locals have expressed Concern about the large-scale removal of several hectares of trees for the slope stabilisation and landfill remediaion works, and have alleged that Council chose the cheapest option for the works, when other opportunities were available to retain more trees. Council defended the need for the works, while a spokesperson for Forest & Bird
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc. is an environmental organisation specialising in conservation of indigenous plant and animal life in and around New Zealand....
also considered that enough trees would be retained around the cleared areas to reduce impact on local birdlife.
After works started, there was further special concern for the (north)eastern part of the park, along Ayr Street, where locals remain insistent that works should avoid mature trees and tree ferns, some of them 60 to 80 years old. They also allege that the rubbish layers do not extend to this area, based on preliminary works undertaken in the remediation. Council has indicated a willingness to assess this possibility.