Greater Wellington Parks Network Plan Was Adopted by the Greater Wellington Regional Council on December 2010 and Came Into Effect on 1 January 2011
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Parks Network Plan For more information, contact Greater Wellington 142 Wakefield Street PO Box 11646 Manners Street Wellington 6142 T 04 384 5708 F 04 385 6960 July 2011 www.gw.govt.nz GW/CP-G-11/101 Date of effect of plan This Greater Wellington Parks Network Plan was adopted by the Greater Wellington Regional Council on December 2010 and came into effect on 1 January 2011. This is now the operative management plan for all Greater Wellington parks and replaces the previous management plans for each area: • Regional Forest Lands Management Plan, 2006 • Regional Parks Network Management Plan, 2003 • Battle Hill Farm Forest Park, 2008 • Belmont Regional Park, 1996 • East Harbour Regional Park, 2007 • Kaitoke Regional Park, 2005 • Queen Elizabeth Park, 2006. Minister of Conservation sign-off 02 PARKS NETWORK PLAN JULY 2011 Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................5 Part 1 Introduction to the plan ........................................................................................7 1.1 Purpose of the plan ..................................................................................................7 How to use the plan .................................................................................................8 1.2 Requirement for the plan ..........................................................................................9 Part 2 Greater Wellington parks ...................................................................................10 2.1 History of Greater Wellington parks ........................................................................10 2.2 Relevant legislation and policies ..............................................................................11 2.3 The relationship of Greater Wellington parks to other public lands .........................13 2.4 Relationship of Greater Wellington parks to the community ...................................15 2.5 Why our parks are valuable ....................................................................................15 Part 3 General management framework ......................................................................17 3.1 Management framework summary .........................................................................17 3.2 Greater Wellington parks vision ..............................................................................17 3.3 Guiding principles for management ........................................................................17 Part 4 General management outcomes and policies ...................................................20 4.1 Biodiversity and ecosystems ....................................................................................21 4.2 Landscape and geological features .........................................................................22 4.3 Cultural heritage ....................................................................................................23 4.4 Land management .................................................................................................24 4.5 Visitor services ........................................................................................................27 4.6 Park infrastructure ..................................................................................................28 4.7 Partnership in parks ................................................................................................30 4.8 Research .................................................................................................................31 4.9 Land tenure, acquisition and disposal .....................................................................31 Part 5 Monitoring and review of this plan ...................................................................33 5.1 Plan review .............................................................................................................33 5.2 Plan monitoring ......................................................................................................33 Part 6 Park-specific management and policies .............................................................35 6.1 Akatarawa Forest ...................................................................................................35 6.2 Battle Hill Farm Forest Park .....................................................................................43 6.3 Belmont Regional Park ............................................................................................49 6.4 East Harbour Regional Park .....................................................................................59 6.5 Kaitoke Regional Park .............................................................................................69 6.6 Pakuratahi Forest ....................................................................................................77 PARKS NETWORK PLAN JULY 2011 03 Contents 6.7 Queen Elizabeth Park ..............................................................................................85 6.8 Wainuiomata Recreation Area ................................................................................93 Part 7 Rules for use and development ..........................................................................99 7.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................99 7.2 Allowed activities ..................................................................................................102 7.3 Managed activities ................................................................................................104 7.4 Restricted activities ...............................................................................................107 7.5 Prohibited activities ...............................................................................................111 Glossary ..........................................................................................................................113 References/bibliography ...............................................................................................116 Appendix 1 - History of parks ............................................................................................i Appendix 2 - List of lands in each park - legal descriptions ..........................................iii Appendix 3 - Greater Wellington Parks, Forests and Reserves Bylaw 2009 .............xxiv 04 PARKS NETWORK PLAN JULY 2011 Foreword Wellington’s regional parks are a precious Parks need to be places that are relevant community resource. They are valuable to people. Although there will always be storehouses of biodiversity and a source of those who value the parks but do not visit great pleasure for the ever increasing numbers them, many use the parks and appreciate the of people who visit them. They provide a experiences they offer. Our aim is to maximise superb scenic backdrop to the urban settings the availability of our parks network to as of the Region. many sectors of society as possible. This Parks Network Plan covers over Working with the community in developing 33,000 hectares, including five regional parks, the range of experiences in our parks will be a Akatarawa and Pakuratahi Forests and core element of the new management regime. Wainuiomata Recreation Area. Some areas are There are clearly opportunities to develop adjacent to city parks and trails while several new recreational and educational experiences are more remote forest areas. They each have and provide for sustainable economic their own special characteristics but they activities where these are compatible with the all share certain key qualities. This Greater local ecology and public amenity values. Wellington Parks Network Plan is designed to We need to strike a balance between the needs provide a coherent, consolidated management of people and the needs of the environment. regime for the network as a whole as well as This is not always easy. It requires flexibility specific management provisions for each park. and imagination and a better public In the Wellington Regional Strategy, quality understanding of the interface between open space is recognised as a fundamental human activity and local ecology. requirement of world class cities and regions. People are becoming more aware of regional parks’ role in conserving vital ecosystems and the merits of linking the open spaces provided Nigel Wilson around the region by territorial authorities Chair Social and Cultural Wellbeing Committee, and the Department of Conservation. Greater Wellington Regional Council PARKS NETWORK PLAN JULY 2011 05 Introduction Introduction 1 Introduction to the plan 1.1 Purpose of the plan As further land areas are identified as Greater Wellington parks, these areas will be added This plan sets out the direction for managing by a variation to the management plan. the regional parks and forests in the Wellington region (referred to as “parks”). It provides While some lands have a specific primary a framework for addressing issues common purpose (such as future water supply1), their to these areas and managing them in a management shares many common elements comprehensive and consistent way. The plan so the lands can be managed as a network. highlights the unique nature and values in Each park provides a different experience the different parks, and addresses the need and contains special features and values