The Draft RMP was amended in response to submissions, as directed by the Hearing Panel.
Council considered the Hearing Panel recommendations and adopted the final RMP at their meeting on 16 June 2022. The new Plan took effect from this date.
Project background
There were two related projects (the first was completed in June 2021, the second in June 2022):
The Council administers 140 parks, reserves and open space areas within Moutere-Waimea Ward. Not all of these are formally protected as reserves under the Reserves Act 1977 (the Act). We consulted on proposals to classify many of the existing reserves, as these had never previously been classified under the Act.
The classification of a reserve determines its main purpose. Reserve Management Plans set out how parks and reserves are used and managed. Both tasks are requirements of the Reserves Act 1977. We review management plans from time-to-time to make sure reserves are efficiently and appropriately managed.
There have been three opportunities to have your say on these projects:
Council administers 140 parks, reserves and open space areas within Moutere-Waimea Ward.
Management policies for many of these areas are set out in the Moutere-Waimea Ward Reserve Management Plan (RMP). Council's Reserve General Policies document also applies. The current RMP was adopted by Council in 2000, and is overdue for review.
Not all of these 140 areas are formally protected as reserves under the Reserves Act 1977 (the Act), but all areas are included in the draft RMP, which was publicly notified on 15 October 2021. Submissions closed on 17 December 2021 and a hearing will be held on 28 February 2022.
We recently classified many of the existing reserves, as the Act requires that this task be completed before publicly notifying a draft reserve management plan.
Our Moutere-Waimea Ward reserves projects will follow these steps:
Council manages 207 parcels of land in Moutere-Waimea Ward that Council recently classified under the Reserves Act 1977.
We asked for your views on the proposed classification of these existing reserves.
Submissions on the proposals opened on 20 November 2020 and closed on 15 March 2021.
A hearing was held on 13 April 2021.
The Hearing Panel deliberated on all submissions received and amended the recommended classification of four reserve areas as a result.
Council considered the Hearing Panel recommendations and made decisions about the final classifications at their meeting on 20 May 2021.
A notice was published in the New Zealand Gazette classifying the reserves on 29 June 2021 - this was the final step in the process.
Over the summer of 2019/2020 we sought your ideas, for inclusion in a Draft Moutere-Waimea Ward Reserve Management Plan. This initial consultation round ended on 31 March 2020.
We asked you to tell us which reserves you use regularly, what you value most about them, and any changes you would like to see to the way they are used or managed. We also created a survey to assist with the collation of your ideas and suggestions.
One example of a specific topic that we asked for your input on was the use of space in the Wakefield Recreation Reserve. This reserve has recently increased in size, with Council's purchase of land between the existing sportsfields and Baigent Memorial Scenic Reserve. Staff prepared an indicative concept plan showing a possible layout of the facilities and uses of this reserve (see map below). We asked for your feedback on both the proposed uses and layout for this area.
As part of Council's 'Native Habitats Tasman' project, ecological assessment reports have been undertaken for parks and reserves in the Moutere-Waimea Ward.
Where a park or reserve contains remnant native habitat or wildlife values, an ecologist has visited the site and assessed its significance. These reports are available for download below.
The number alongside each report refers to the relevant Moutere-Waimea Ward reserves map number.
The first reserve management plan for Moutere-Waimea Ward was adopted in 2000. It is recommended that plans are reviewed at least once every 10 years, meaning this plan was well overdue for review.
All types of reserves (except Local Purpose reserves) under the control of, or vested in, an administering body must be covered by an approved management plan, under s41 of the Reserves Act 1977.
Council resolved to prepare a single Reserve Management Plan, covering all Council-administered parks and reserves located within Moutere-Waimea Ward. Many of the 155 areas to be included in the draft RMP are reserves (i.e. formally protected under the Reserves Act), while others are administered as part of Council’s open space network, but not formally protected under the Act. Management guidance for all 155 areas will be included within the draft Moutere-Waimea Ward Reserve Management Plan.
The Reserves Act 1977 requires (s 41(3)) that a management plan "provide for and ensure" the following:
Management planning is intended to enable the administering body to establish the desired mix of use and protection for each reserve or group of reserves and set in place policy to guide day to day management. Determining community preferences, and establishing the best means to provide for them are essential ingredients for good management planning.
A management plan provides the community with certainty about the function and management of each reserve or grouping. A management plan also provides the administering body with efficiency gains in management of the reserve, by allowing exemptions from public notification in certain cases.
An administering body is required to keep the management plan(s) over reserve(s) for which it responsible under continuous review (s 41(4)). The intention is that the plan be adapted to changing circumstances or increased knowledge. Generally, plans should be reviewed at a minimum of 10 year intervals.
Please note that the guidance document that opens from this link has not been updated for a number of years. It does not accurately reflect the 2013 delegations from the Minister of Conservation to local authorities who administer Crown-owned reserve land. However, it still provides useful general guidance for management of reserves.
