Public Meeting To Discuss Martinborough’s Pain Farm

Tuesday, 14 May 2024, 5:30 am
Article: Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter

An information evening will be held on Wednesday night to discuss the management of Martinborough’s Pain Farm Estate.

The 85 hectares of Pain Farm land was bequeathed to the former Martinborough Borough Council by George Pain in 1932 to be used as “a sports ground for the residents of Martinborough and as a playground for the children”.

A 1966 court order approved the following scheme: “that the income of the trust lands should be used ... in maintaining and improving the Borough’s parks, sports grounds, camping ground, swimming baths, providing, equipping and maintaining sports facilities and a children’s playground in such manner and in such proportion as the council shall from time to time decide.”

Last year, South Wairarapa District Council requested that 76 hectares of Pain Farm be designated for “waste disposal purposes” in the region's district pan.

The requested designation came as a shock to the community, despite the project being signalled in the council’s 35-year-consent, which was approved in 2016.

Organised by the Martinborough Community Board [MCB], Wednesday’s event aims to inform the community about George Pain’s bequest, recent financial reporting, and ongoing legal advice being sought by the council regarding the terms of the bequest.

It would be held at the Martinborough Town Hall, with doors opening at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

A resolution to hold a public meeting on Pain Farm Estate was made at last month’s MCB meeting.

However, it was “subject to the date by which the Martinborough Community Board receives legal opinion” currently being sought by the South Wairarapa District Council chief executive.

MCB member Karen Krogh said because this work was “very much ongoing”, there was no need to delay organising an information evening which would “not seek any immediate resolve or motion to act, but would merely provide some feedback in two directions”.

“The intent is to let people know who are interested about what we know regarding the management of this bequest,” she said.

The meeting would be facilitated by members of the board.

-NZLDR
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