Our Place Milton Community Plan

The Our Place Milton final community plan summarises the projects and the aims of the community plan, and is a useful reference for people wanting to know more.

This plan was developed based on the feedback received from various community consultation in 2018.

Councillors took that feedback and are focusing on the following priority projects:

• Development in and around Milton
• Walking and cycling
• Community and visitor facilities
• Parks and reserves, including Greater Taylor Park, Moore Park and Fairfax Cemetery.

Obviously, it will take a little time and detailed planning work but working with the community will be key to the success of these ideas.

Some of these projects are likely to be community-led rather than Council led. We'd like to encourage anyone who is interested in being part of the process to get in touch with us. For example, perhaps, you're part of an already established community group that would like to get on board with a certain project.

The "Our Place Milton" community plan determines the projects and priorities for the community, as well as help put Council's Living and Working and Economic Development Strategies into action. The ideas centre on what Council can do with our key facilities and how we can work with the community to make things happen.

Council has made it very clear that projects can generally proceed where financially the project is rates neutral, but where a project would be seeking additional Council funding, it would go through a due process for consultation. Council has built into each project, a requirement to consider "easy wins" as a priority.

Bruce Community Facility

A $13-14 million community facility featuring a community library and six lane swimming pool in Milton was approved by Clutha District Council at their meeting on 4 August 2022.

The new multi-purpose facility will aim to offer a range of services all year-round including swimming lessons, competitions and aquatic play, digital help, library programmes, celebrating local history and access to information.

Council approved that the facility will be funded by CDC rates, central government funding (subject to confirmation of the 3 Waters Better Off funding support package), as well as community fundraising and grants from various sectors, both of which will be facilitated by the Bruce Community Facilities Trust.

Council consulted with the public on options for a six or eight lane swimming pool and asked whether people had feedback on other options.

Consultation also covered the increased costs associated with this project, as COVID related supply challenges and cost increases in the building industry resulted in increases from initial estimates.

There were 124 written submissions, with 92% of these from the Bruce (wider Milton) area.

50 (42%) supported Option 1 - $13-14M facility with 6 lanes 40

(34%) supported Option 2 - $18-20M facility with 8 lanes

29 (24%) supported another option

Council funding of the facility will be included in the 2023/24 Annual Plan budget.

Further background on this project is available here:

Bruce Community Facility Consultation Document 2022

Bruce Community Facility Consultation - Supporting Information