*Update

The saga continues, and we have a major update from the Cromwell Community Board meeting on June 2nd. We highly encourage you watch this meeting and make up your own mind on how the decision played out. 

Recording of Cromwell Community Board meeting June 6

First, the good news The Sandflat Road pines are staying! For now. 

The Cromwell Community Board made the official decision not to fell the forest for economic reasons. This is a huge win, and the trees we fought so hard to protect will remain standing for the foreseeable future.

When we started this campaign, the Council initially dismissed our cause, stating that losing this space had a "low significance" to the local community. Because 880+ of you (still climbing) signed this petition, funded an expert arborist report, and showed up to protest, the Council could no longer ignore us. In the official meeting papers, the community value of these pines has now been upgraded to medium significance. For us it is the issue of the highest significance and makes a difference to our everyday. 

We are slowly forcing the Council to recognise just how important this amenity is to the people of Cromwell. It just might take a little longer and potentially some legal help.

While the trees are safe, the Board unfortunately voted to uphold the removal of the off-leash dog walking access, citing "risk concerns" over potential falling branches during high winds. 

This is incredibly frustrating. Our independent report and the councils own forestry report showed the actual risk to the public is low affecting less than 0.17% of the trees. Givealittle fundraising link for our arborist report Notably zero trees were identified as high risk. As a community, we even offered to fundraise for the warning signs and manage the area ourselves. Sadly, the Council opted for a "hard no" instead of working with us on a common-sense solution. It seems our Community Board were not given a choice in the meeting it was clearly dictated to them how to vote. We are challenging this to defend our Community boards autonomy, even more so when the issue at hand involves Cromwell endowment land. 

The risk would come during strong wind events, Cromwell has had according to the Cromwell College Weather Station only notes this being reached on one! Occasion in the past 5 years on the 21st September 2023 with gusts of 79km/h https://weather.cromwell.school.nz/long_chart.php

If the wind does reach strong wind classification 75km/h Cromwell Dogs are prepared to help close the forest with signage and fund an inspection of the Pines before reopening. 

The council doesn’t have the resources to make 21 trees safe for the wellness of over 880 people in a community. But in the same meeting….
-Approves a grant of $95,000 to Cromwell and Districts Promotions Group
-Approves a grant of $15,000 to Cromwell BMX Club
-Approves a grant of $5,500 to Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust

While ignoring our offers to manage the signs and fundraise when making their decision. 

This land is endowment land gifted to the Cromwell Borough Council for the benefit of the Cromwell Community. Shutting out Cromwell from 97.6% of our dog walking space is doing the exact opposite of that. 

Losing our town's best shaded, safe, off-leash area is a blow, but this is far from over

• Making CODC roll back their decision. This is the key we will keep making our voices heard and we are seeking legal advice. Please let us know if you would like to help lisa@zoomiesdogtrainingadventures.com
• We need to keep growing this petition. The bigger our numbers, the harder it is for the Council to sideline us as they plan the town's future.
• Pushing for a Solution. Because of our pressure, Board members have already noted they will need to look into dedicated, alternative off-leash dog exercise areas through the upcoming 2027-37 Long-Term Plan process. We need to make sure they actually follow through on this.
• Media. We are looking at ways to get this story out there we have had great support from the likes of Central App, ODT if you can help with this please get in touch. 

Thank you all so much for your incredible support. We shifted the dial on how the Council views our community, and there is plenty more to come.

Please share this update and keep the momentum going!

If you are able to contribute or share our Givealittle page that would help our cause, this was to assess whether the remaining block would be affected by the Motorcross club being given the triangle section close to Highlands. This will be valuable going forward. 

How else can you help? Email our board members, you might want to thank Mike Casey, Wally Sanford and Sarah Browne for the support they have shown our cause. We need them on our side. 

• Sarah Browne – Cromwell Ward Councillor / Board Member Email: sarah.browne@codc.govt.nz
• Anna Harrison – Chair, Cromwell Community Board Email: anna.harrison@codc.govt.nz
• Wally Sanford – Deputy Chair, Cromwell Community Board Email: wally.sanford@codc.govt.nz
• Rebecca Anderson – Member, Cromwell Community Board Email: rebecca.anderson@codc.govt.nz
• Mike Casey – Member, Cromwell Community Board Email: mike.casey@codc.govt.nz

You can also email CODC staff, you might like to thank Peter Kelly and David Scoones for their support in the meeting, they showed a willingness to work with us and support the retention of the dog walking status

• Tamah Alley – Mayor, Central Otago District Council Email: mayor@codc.govt.nz
• Peter Kelly – Chief Executive Officer, Central Otago District Council Email: peter.kelly@codc.govt.nz 
• David Scoones – Group Manager, Community Experience (Central Otago District Council) Email: david.scoones@codc.govt.nz

Some relevant links

Central app Cromwell board pauses harvest, stops public access to pines​

June 2 Cromwell Community Board meeting agenda​

ODT Dog-owners protest tree-felling plan​

Central app Cromwell pine harvest to proceed despite petition​

Lisa and Roo podcast on the issue with Cromwell Dogs members​

Radio Wanaka interview link