Page | 1 September 2017 Southland District Council Southland Open Space Priority Settings Prepared by Xyst Limited with Dave Bamford Tourism Authors: Dave Bamford, Anne Relling and Paul Wilson 13 September 2017 6.3.6 Manapouri 18 Contents 6.3.7 Clifden 19 6.3.8 Tuatapere 19 1 Introduction 1 6.3.9 Orepuki 19 1.1 ProJect brief 1 6.3.10 Cosy Nook 20 2 Executive summary 2 6.3.11 Colac bay 20 6.3.12 Riverton 20 3 Visitors to Southland 3 6.3.13 Oban 21 3.1 New Zealand context 3 6.3.14 Edendale, Wyndham and surrounding community halls 21 3.1.1 Visitors 3 6.3.15 Lumsden 21 3.1.2 Spend 3 6.3.16 Tokanui and Southern Scenic Route 22 3.1.3 Nights 3 6.3.17 Ohai, Nightcaps, Drummond, and Otautau 22 3.2 Southland region and districts 3 6.3.18 Scenic and District Reserves 23 3.3 Visitor spend in Southland 4 6.3.19 Wallacetown and Thornbury 24 3.3.1 Domestic spending 4 6.3.20 Winton, Dipton, Browns, Limehills and Ryal Bush 24 3.4 Visitors staying in commercial accommodation in Southland 5 6.3.21 Balfour, Riversdale, Waikaia 25 3.5 International visitors to Southland 5 6.3.22 Fortrose, Tararua Acre, Weir’s Beach, and Waikawa: the 3.5.1 Indicator Information regarding visitor use in Southland 10 Catlin’s Heritage Trail 25 3.5.2 Te Araroa Trail 11 6.3.23 Curio Bay 26 4 The visitor experience 12 7 Key issues and opportunities 27 4.1 Needs of residents 13 7.1 Signage 27 5 Service levels 14 7.2 Toilets 27 5.1 Quality facilities 14 7.3 Public dump stations 27 6 The open space network 16 7.4 Litter 28 7.5 Drinking water 28 6.1 Assessments 16 7.6 Recreation planning 28 6.2 Visitor survey 16 8 Role of other agencies 29 6.2.1 Results 16 6.3 Mararoa Waimea 17 8.1 New Zealand Transport Agency 29 6.3.1 Garston 17 8.2 Department of Conservation 30 6.3.2 Athol 17 8.3 Environment Southland 30 6.3.3 Five rivers 17 8.4 Neighbouring Councils 30 6.3.4 Mossburn 17 9 Freedom camping 31 6.3.5 Te Anau 18 9.1 NZS 5465 Amendment No.2 32 9.2 Freedom camping strategy 32 12 Costs 42 9.3 Potential legislative changes 32 13 Summary 42 10 Priority Sites 33 10.1 Evaluative criteria 33 10.2 Kingston to Te Anau 34 10.2.1 Garston/Athol 34 10.2.2 Mossburn 34 10.3 Te Anau 34 10.3.1 Town centre 34 10.3.2 Lakefront 35 10.3.3 Boat Harbour – Te Anau Domain 35 10.4 Te Anau to Makarewa 35 10.4.1 Clifden Bridge 35 10.4.2 McCrackens rest 35 10.4.3 Gemstone Beach 35 10.4.4 Monkey Island 35 10.4.5 Cosy Nook 36 10.4.6 Colac Bay 36 10.4.7 Lumsden 36 10.4.8 Taramea Bay Recreation Reserve 36 10.4.9 More’s Scenic Reserve 37 10.4.10 Curio Bay 37 10.4.11 Camping - Catlins Heritage Trail 37 10.4.12 Waituna Lagoon Road 38 10.4.13 Photopoints 38 11 Funding requirements 39 11.1 Funding opportunities 39 11.1.1 Tourism infrastructure fund 39 11.1.2 Pay for USE 40 11.1.3 Southland Camping Pass 41 11.1.4 Land Sales – rationalisation 41 11.1.5 Lease arrangements 41 11.1.6 Partnerships 42 b. Develop a coordinated district-wide plan that identifies what 1 Introduction level(s) or standard(s) of service should be provided where, across Southland’s open space infrastructure and priorities for Increasing visitor numbers and shifting demographic/recreational improvement. The plan should: trends are changing who, how, where and why people use (or do not use) Southland District’s open spaces and associated facilities. • be based on the type of experience intended and ensure that open spaces/facilities are fit for purpose both now and The Open Space Priority Settings proJect seeks to provide a strategic in the future; approach to the management of the open spaces managed by the Council with the focus on ensuring the needs and expectations of • determine the criteria used to evaluate priorities (e.g. residents and visitors are met. linkages with other sites and visitor flow patterns); 1.1 Project brief • identify opportunities (and the merits of) different mechanisms available to fund visitor/tourism-related open Council is seeking to assess and better understand: space/facility development and/or consistent standards across the District; • what is currently being provided in open spaces/facilities and the experience from a user’s perspective; • involve liaising with external and internal stakeholders) to • how this compares to what users expect (in particular for ensure there is no duplication of facilities/expenditure and visitors); that any proposals are in line with other stakeholder • how user demand and expectations are expected to change in objectives/plans (including SoRDS); the future; • what this means for Council in terms of what open • inform policy and planning processes. This will include spaces/facilities should be provided where, for whom and to helping to identify priorities/options/costs/funding for what level/standard; projects in Council’s 2018 Long Term Plan; the merits of • what the priorities are and what needs to be done to address and opportunity to apply for infrastructure funding from the any gaps/issues; Tourism Infrastructure Fund, the nature of any changes • what level of expenditure/funding is needed and options for how needed to the local regulatory / bylaw / resource planning this should be funded? framework controlling open space use (e.g. Freedom Camping Bylaw) and opportunities for changes to the Specifically, the Open Space Priority Settings proJect seeks to: Council’s funding policies for open spaces and facilities (e.g. new revenue generation from visitors or self-funding a. Develop a better understanding of current and future user needs ideas). (including expectations and demand) and any gaps from what is currently provided across Council’s open spaces/facilities. • Share any insights about how the management/funding of open spaces and associated facilities by Council could be improved to deliver better outcomes. Southland Open Spaces Priority Settings pg. 1 2 Executive summary Visitors primarily need clear sign’s and safe facilities that are appropriately maintained for the setting and be seen to be cared for and loved by the community. The open spaces managed by the Council are important for the health and well-being of local residents and make a significant contribution to The key challenges facing the Council in the management and visitor’s experience of Southland. Whether visitors are residents of development of its open space are: Invercargill, from further afield or international visitors, their impression of Southland is in part formed by the presentation of public places and 1. Providing appropriate community facilities that are fit for the facilities within them. purpose and are relevant for the needs of local communities for the future. Positive experiences increase pride in the region and encourages more people to live and play in Southland. 2. Determining the best approach to freedom camping for Southland. Freedom camping is likely to continue to be a Tourism in Southland is significant with over 800,000 visitors going to popular way to experience Southland. There is potential to Milford Sound, over 100,000 to Curio Bay and over 36,000 to Stewart develop many of the Council’s reserves as freedom camping Island. The Southland tourism experience is an important part of New sites however this would come at considerable on-going cost Zealand’s Tourism offer. Currently New Zealand hosts over 3.6 million to ratepayers with uncertain economic benefits. visitors, and this has been growing at around 10% and arrivals continue to grow. It is estimated that this growth will continue at 4.5% 3. Funding the development, maintenance and renewal of and reach around 5 million visitors by 2024. infrastructure to meet the needs of local communities and visitors While there have been some notable exceptions, facility development within the open spaces managed by the Council has been modest over Considerable investment in the design and improvement of facilities is the last 30 years despite a sustained period of extraordinary tourism required to make Southland’s public spaces attractive. growth. While the Queenstown – Milford Sound route will always be the most Funding does not appear to have been sufficiently prioritised into the significant visitor corridor in the district there is potential to increase districts open space compared with other similar districts. It is also visitor flows along the Southern Scenic Route from Te Anau to Curio evident that there is a clear lack of professional design input into the Bay. Emphasis on facility development for visitors should be placed on maJority of developments and some facility improvement has the these two routes. appearance of being ad hoc and incremental. The funding base for facility development will need to be widened. Communities need affordable access to basic recreation and Grouping facility development proJects together as packages of work community facilities such as playgrounds, sports fields and courts, will assist in attracting funding from partners including government. walkways and cycle trails and community halls. Southland Open Spaces Priority Settings pg. 2 3 Visitors to Southland 3.1 New Zealand context 3.1.1 VISITORS New Zealand currently attracts 3,614,000 international visitor arrivals per annum, and this is forecast to grow by 4.48% p.a.