Public views sought on latest bylaws for review

The central Hamilton area covered by a ban on skateboarding will be reduced under a proposed new Hamilton City Council bylaw.

The public consultation period for three bylaw reviews - Hamilton City Traffic Bylaw, the Hamilton City Cultural and Recreational Facilities Bylaw, the Hamilton City Parks, Domains and Reserves Bylaw, plus a proposal to declare Garden Place a pedestrian mall – opened this week.

There are three information sessions to be held at Council’s ground floor reception lounger, during which the bylaw proposals will be discussed:  12pm, Monday, 23 April (Hamilton City Traffic Bylaw and designation of Garden Place), 12pm, Tuesday 24 April (Hamilton City Parks, Domains and Reserved Bylaw), and 1pm, Tuesday 24 April (Hamilton City Cultural and Recreational Facilities Bylaw).

The proposed Hamilton City Traffic Bylaw 2012 would replace the Hamilton City Traffic Bylaw 2007 and the Hamilton City Skating Bylaw 2007. Part of the proposed bylaw would see Garden Place and Civic Square as the only areas where skateboarding is prohibited, and would end the current ban on skateboarding on Bader Street in Melville.  It would also include a definition of the shared zones for traffic and pedestrians, and where they can be (including Commerce Street, for Frankton Market, plus a proposed shared zone for Ward Street and Worley Place), and define the mobility scooters favoured by older people (the scooters will not be considered motor vehicles).

The proposed Hamilton City Parks, Domains and Reserves Bylaw will update the 2007 bylaw, and review Council’s approach to freedom camping, in line with the Freedom Camping Act 2011, defining where freedom camping will be permitted, and prohibited. It will also update clauses on the unsafe or reckless use of vehicles – including bicycles, scooters and motorcycles – in public parks.

The intention of the Hamilton City Cultural and Recreational Facilities Bylaw 2012 is to replace a 2007 bylaw.

Councillor Maria Westphal, chair of the Strategy and Policy Committee, says: “These reviews are part of Council’s legislative responsibilities, and it’s important members of our community with an interest in these areas offer their views. We encourage residents and interested parties to make submissions.”

Members of the public can make submissions up until Friday, 18 May. Submissions can be filled out online, posted to the Strategy and Research Unit, Freepost 172189, Hamilton, City Council, Private Bag 3010, Hamilton, hand-delivered to the second floor of the Municipal Building, Garden Place, Hamilton, or e-mailed to submissions@hcc.govt.nz