Draft Open Space Access Plan Document

CSWCCJ000630 Oruaiti Reserve and Wellington Harbour looking north Draft Open Space Access plan Plan for the management of the Open Space Access Network June 2016 2 Wellington City Council Contents 1. Introduction .....................................................................3 Karori Stream Access ........................................................ 21 1.1 What is the Open Space Access Network? .......................3 7.1 Sector 1 – Spicer and Tawa west ................................... 23 1.2 How do tracks fit in? ......................................................4 7.2 Sector 2 – Ohariu ......................................................... 23 1.3 The Council’s role ..........................................................4 7. Sector Information .........................................................23 1.4 Other providers .............................................................5 7.3 Sector 3 – Kaukau .........................................................26 1.5 Community trail builders ..............................................5 7.4 Sector 4 – Otari-Wilton’s Bush .....................................26 2. Current track networks ................................................... 6 7.5 Sector 5 – Makara Peak .................................................29 2.1 Strengths of Wellington’s track network ........................6 7.6 Sector 6 – Wrights Hill / Karori / Zealandia ...................29 2.2 Weaknesses of Wellington’s track network ....................6 7.7 Sector 7 – Te Kopahou/Careys Gully.............................. 32 2.3 Opportunities for Wellington’s network .........................6 7.8 Sector 8 – Grenada North/Belmont 2.4 Threats to Wellington’s network ....................................6 Regional Park/Tawa .......................................................... 32 2.5 Accessibility opportunities and constraints ...................6 7.9 Sector 9 – Newlands / Johnsonville / Churton Park ....... 35 7.10 Sector 10 – Trelissick Park and Environs ..................... 35 3. Vision ...............................................................................7 7.11 Sector 11 – Te Ahumairangi Hill ...................................38 7.12 Sector 12 – Botanic Garden ..........................................38 4. Components of the network ..........................................10 7.13 Sector 13 – Central City and Waterfront ....................... 41 5. Network principles ........................................................ 11 7.14 Sector 14 – Mount Victoria / MataiRangi .................... 41 5.1 Recreation uses ............................................................11 7.15 Sector 15 – Mount Albert/Island Bay .......................... 44 5.2 Track design ................................................................ 12 7.16 Sector 16 – Miramar Peninsula ................................... 44 5.3 Track networks ........................................................... 12 7.17 Sector 17 – Western Rural and Coast ............................47 5.4 Track assessment ........................................................ 12 Track classification diagram .............................................49 5.5 Walking, running and mountain biking/cycling ...........13 8. Appendix one track classification ................................. 49 5.6 Motorised vehicles ...................................................... 14 Track classification diagram (header)................................50 5.7 Horses ..........................................................................15 5.8 Electric bikes ...............................................................15 9. Appendix two track specifications ................................52 Schedule A: Open space areas and tracks closed to Mountain Biking/Cycling (last updated April 2016) ........... 16 10. Appendix three open space access Schedule B: Open space areas and tracks that have a implementation plan 2016 .................................................57 priority use for mountain bikes (developed april 2016) .......17 Open Space Access implementation plan – Schedule C: Open space areas and tracks that are Strategic direction ............................................................54 approved for e-bike use (developed april 2016) .................. 18 Renewal .......................................................................... 55 Schedule D: Open space areas and tracks open to Funded upgrades.............................................................. 55 horse riding (last updated April 2016)................................ 19 11. Appendix four current lease horse grazing areas ........ 69 6. Key Initiatives .............................................................. 20 The Skyline Track ............................................................20 12. Appendix five – Wellington City Council walking and cycling policy objectives (2008) ....................74 The Harbour Escarpment Walk ........................................20 Great Harbour Way/Te Aranui o Pōneke ............................20 The Rural Coastal Connection...........................................20 The East-West Connection – Otari to Makara ..................... 21 Draft Open Space Access plan 2016 3 1. Introduction Most cities have large urban parks for public and recreational vehicle drivers. Each user group has recreation, or areas of open space on the urban fringe slightly different requirements and expectations. for tramping, bush walks and biking. Wellington has a unique network, embedded within the city structure and Wellington Town Belt, running out through the 1.1 What is the Open Space Access Network? suburbs to the Outer Green Belt and beyond into the The open space network is simply any route that runs rural environment. through open space. It may be a specifically built road The track network offers benefits for the entire or track, may have evolved from use or have been community and caters for a wide range of interests adapted from a former farm track. The main categories and abilities. of users are pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle users. This plan bases its classifications around these users. Environmental benefits There are many roads and vehicle tracks in Wellington • Promotes community awareness and appreciation that are vital to the network and are maintained of the natural environment for reasons other than, or in addition to, recreation • Develops public understanding of the principles access (for example, access to utilities). There is also and value of conservation a number of paper roads (legally a road but as yet • Promotes walking, cycling and running as viable unbuilt), which may have some future significance for modes of transport access. Roads and vehicle tracks are considered within • Enriches the experiences of visitors through this plan as part of the network, however, the design education and interpretation and standards of roads and tracks is not included within this document because of the specialist Social benefits requirements. • Contributes to the livability of the community and Open spaces are the outdoor places around us is part of the local culture that have: • Facilitates community interaction and recreation • Improved health • ecological values such as plants and animals and the habitats they live in Recreational benefits • recreational values that we appreciate and enjoy, • Opportunities for free, accessible recreational including formal and informal sport, and active activity for a broad section of the community and passive activities • Increased recreational opportunities for a broad • landscape values, including patterns of landform, section of the community scenic beauty and sense of place • Opportunities for risk, adventure, remoteness • natural heritage values inherent in places with and solitude cultural or historic significance. Track users include walkers with limited mobility, It is necessary to manage access to the open space wheelchair users, walkers who use tracks for network. This includes balancing the needs of recreation or to access a specific destination, walkers users with potential conflict between the users – for with dogs, family walkers with young children example, mountain bikers and walkers – as well as and pushchairs, walkers who want solitude and a development of the network, while making sure we natural environment, trampers, runners/joggers, protect the ecological and landscape values. mountain bikers, power prammers (mountain buggy users), family mountain bikers, commuters, tourists, environmental education users, horse riders, 4 Wellington City Council making the public more aware of the open spaces 1.2 How do tracks fit in? available to them and promoting physical activity. Tracks are a significant part of the Council’s role in Building and supporting active living environments is Getting Everyone Active and Healthy, a key outcome of one way to provide greater opportunities for routine Our Capital Spaces – An Open Spaces and Recreation physical activity, as well as experiencing the natural Framework For Wellington: 2013–23. Our Capital environment. Well planned tracks are a great way to Spaces focusses on providing accessible walking and promote active living. cycling tracks within our open spaces. The Open The track network needs to be actively promoted by Space Access Plan’s central theme is that recreation the city, and publicised to provide users with high and leisure opportunities should be available to quality, accessible information about

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