Wellington Town Belt Management Plan – June 2013 49
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6 Recreation The play area at Central Park, Brooklyn. A flying fox and bike skills area are also provided. Guiding principles The Town Belt is for all to enjoy. This concerns equity of access and use of the Town Belt. The Council believes that the Town Belt should be available for all Wellingtonians to enjoy. The Council is committed to ensuring that the Town Belt will continue to be improved with more access and improved accessibly features where it is reasonably practicable to do so. The Town Belt will be used for a wide range of recreation activities. The Town Belt should cater for a wide range of sporting and recreation activities managed in a way to minimise conflict between different users. Co-location and intensification of sports facilities within existing hubs and buildings is supported where appropriate. 6.1 Objectives 6.1.1 The Town Belt is accessed and used by the community for a wide range of sporting and recreational activities. 6.1.2 Recreational and sporting activities are environmentally, financially and socially sustainable. 6.1.3 Participation in sport and recreation is encouraged and supported. 6.1.4 The Town Belt makes a significant contribution to the quality of life, health and wellbeing of Wellingtonians by increasing a range of physical activity and providing active transport routes and access to natural environments 6.1.5 The track (open-space access) network provides for a range of user interests, skills, abilities and fitness levels, and pedestrian and cycling commuter links. 6.1.6 Management and development of formal sporting facilities and associated infrastructure does not compromise the landscape and ecological values of the Town Belt. 6.1.7 To maximise use of existing formal indoor and outdoor recreation facilities by intensifying the use of sports surfaces and ensuring the multiple use of ancillary facilities, such as clubrooms, to reduce the demand for additional facilities on the Town Belt. Wellington Town Belt Management Plan – June 2013 49 6.2 Policies Recreation 6.2.1 Provide passive and/or informal recreation spaces in a variety of settings for people to enjoy time out, explore nature and learn in a safe environment. 6.2.2 The Town Belt will contribute to the citywide parks and reserves network where identified sites (see the sector plans in section 8) will provide sportsfields, neighbourhood parks, play grounds, skateparks, ecological connectivity and track networks. 6.2.3 Recreation events and programmes will be run on the Town Belt subject to section 9.4: Managed activities 6.2.4 Interpret the features and values of the Town Belt including the history and culture, ecology and recreation. 6.2.5 Sustainable cultural harvesting of plant material for non-commercial cultural purposes by Māori will be considered at designated sites. Track (access) network 6.2.6 The Town Belt will be improved by providing clear information and signs, and improving the surface and/or by reducing the gradient of tracks where feasible. 6.2.7 Tracks will be shared use (ie pedestrian and cycle) wherever this is appropriate. Tracks are open for biking unless otherwise identified in accordance with the Open Space Access Plan (2008). 6.2.8 The open-space access network will be integrated with the wider city and regional access networks, and cycle and walking commuting needs. 6.2.9 Continue a programme for upgrading walking/cycling tracks in order of priority based on use and asset condition. 6.2.10 All tracks will be physically sustainable and have minimal environmental impact, as far as possible. 6.2.11 Tracks will be designed and maintained to defined standards in the Open Space Access Plan, with significant hazards identified and/or mitigated. 6.2.12 Develop more tracks within the Town Belt that are accessible and useable by people with limited mobility, push chairs and wheelchairs. This includes the able-bodied, people pushing strollers, the elderly and people with impairments or disabilities. 6.2.13 Develop a plan for additional beginner level/family friendly biking and walking tracks. 6.2.14 Maintain a practicable network of pedestrian and maintenance accessways to service the facilities, amenities, utilities and special features of the Town Belt. 6.2.15 The walkway system will be accurately mapped and interpreted, and this information will be freely available to the community. 50 Wellington Town Belt Management Plan – June 2013 Dog-exercise areas 6.2.16 Review the provision of dog-exercise areas and off-leash areas on the Town Belt during the next review of the Dog Policy. In particular Sector 3 Brooklyn Hills, Sector 4 Macalister Park and Sector 9 Mt Victoria/Matairangi. Community gardens and orchards 6.2.17 Community gardens and orchards may be permitted, so that community groups can provide food, recreation and therapeutic opportunities for the community. 6.2.18 Community gardens and orchards on the Town Belt will be not-for-profit (ie no produce may be sold) and private allotments are not allowed. 6.2.19 No formal education or qualification may be offered on the Town Belt. Any environmental education activity can occur when it supports and complements the primary role and purpose of the Town Belt and fits within the definition of recreation in the management plan. 6.2.20 Assessment of applications for use of the Town Belt for community gardens and orchards will be according to the criteria specified in section 9 (Rules for use and development). 6.2.21 Licences for community gardens and orchards will be for a maximum of 10 years. Sport and recreation parks and facilities 6.2.22 Ensure the availability of a range of sporting and recreation opportunities that satisfies the needs of citizens and visitors. 6.2.23 Development of existing or building new sporting, recreational 22 and club facilities is limited to • within the footprint of sport and recreation parks or • within current leased areas and associated hard infrastructure, such as car parks. Note: where the leased area is within a sport and recreation park (ie Wellington Football Club in Hataitai Park), the footprint is that of the larger sport and recreation park rather than the leased area. The footprint of sport and recreation parks and leased areas are identified in sector plans and are subject to assessment against other Town Belt Management Plan policies and the rules in section 9. 6.2.24 Applications for the development of existing or new sporting, recreational and club facilities are subject to: • an assessment of alternative locations that are not on Town Belt land for such a development • research to confirm demand for such a development is required and sustainable for the sport • the development minimising conflict with existing recreational activities and protecting landscape and open-space values (see 4.2.2) • fulfilling the criteria set out in policy 6.2.23 plus the assessment criteria in section 9 and in particular policy 9.5.1. • being consistent with the policies in section 4 (Landscape) and section 8 (Management sectors). See also policies in section 9 (Rules for use and development). 22 This policy does not include tracks and associated structures such as signs. Wellington Town Belt Management Plan – June 2013 51 • being consistent with the Leases Policy for Community and Recreation Groups (2012) where the policy does not conflict with this management plan. • an assessment that is included in Appendix 5. 6.2.25 Support the use of the Town Belt by elite sport provided such activity complements and supports community use and access and participation. Sport and recreation clubs 6.2.26 Clubs will be encouraged to share facilities and partner with other clubs subject to policies (see sport and recreation, parks and facilities policies). 6.2.27 Leasing of reserve land and facilities to sport and recreation clubs shall only be allowed where the activity is consistent with the objectives of this management plan and, as such, complies with the following: • the activity is concerned with public recreation • the activity is open for public participation (clubs will be encouraged to allow casual play at their facilities or, at least, that their membership shall be open to all members of the public). • the maximum length of a lease will be 10+10 years. Lessees can apply for a new lease. 6.2.28 Leases will be administered in accordance with the Council’s Leases Policy for Community and Recreation Groups (2012) except where inconsistent with this management plan. 6.3 Recreation role of the Wellington Town Belt The Town Belt as we know it today was set aside in trust for the people of Wellington through the 1873 Town Belt Deed (Appendix 1). This Deed identified that the Town Belt was to be: “… ever hereafter used and appropriated as a public recreation ground for the inhabitants of the city of Wellington …” Interpretation of ‘public recreation ground’ has been the cause of disagreement and subject to changing perceptions over the years. Recreational activity on the Town Belt was restricted in the latter part of the 19th century as much of the land was undeveloped and leased for grazing. In 1881 Newtown Park was officially opened as the first sports ground on the Town Belt and as sporting activities increased by 1910, Nairn Street Park, Kelburn Park and Wakefield Park were established. As part of this development private sports clubs developed and leased land for buildings. There was concern this exclusive use of Town Belt land was contrary to the principle of free public access. In 1908 legislation was passed through Parliament allowing the Council to lease up to a maximum of 100 acres (40.47ha) to sports clubs.