A unique, bold and exciting future vision for Invercargill’s largest domain.

Sandy Point Domain is a short distance from central Invercargill; and at over 2000 hectares in area, the domain is a key part of the city's network of parks and reserves. Highly valued by the local community and visitors, the domain provides a wide range of formal and informal recreation, sport and adventure activities. It is home to many sports clubs, including Teretonga Park Raceway; and several of these have lease agreements with the Invercargill City Council for land at Sandy Point Domain.

Along with significant cultural, biodiversity, historic and amenity values, the Domain has areas of indigenous and exotic forestry, which are a source of income for the Invercargill City Council.

The purpose of the Masterplan project was to develop a long-term vision for future use, asset renewal and development of Sandy Point Domain. Boffa Miskell worked collaboratively with Invercargill City Council’s Parks and Recreation Department, through a deliberate staged process, building to an overarching strategy, key moves and 10-, 25- and 50-year visions for the Domain.

Location

Southland

Project date

2021 - 2023

Awards

Award of Excellence | Masterplanning and Urban Design Strategy | Resene New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture Awards

With a view to the future use and management of Sandy Point Domain, three key challenges were identified and addressed in the Masterplan:

  • The domain remaining relevant to the future population of Invercargill and Southland and catering for future recreational trends.
  • The quality and appropriateness of existing infrastructure, assets, facilities and land use at the domain, and how these can be maintained and enhanced in the next 50 years.
  • The potential impact of climate change and sea level rise on Sandy Point Domain, including the potential effects of inundation on assets and infrastructure, as well as on existing activities in the domain. 

We developed a Masterplan vision that provides a ‘road map’ for how existing and future challenges can be met, and how the domain can evolve, thrive and be enhanced in the next 50 years, so that it continues to be a place that the people of Invercargill and Southland use and enjoy.

The 10-, 25- and 50-year vision intervals articulate ‘key moves’ that can be made to implement the Masterplan in stages. The key moves for the Masterplan are focussed on:

  • Enhancing Recreational Offering
  • Promoting Unique Visitor Experience
  • Build Environmental Resilience

The first step in the implementation process of the Masterplan is the development of the Sandy Point Domain Management Plan 2024 - 2034.

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