Nelson City Council

Minister of Conservation approves 7 January 2010

The recommendations of the hearing panel that met 14 October were presented at the 26 November Council meeting and the final Conservation and Landscape Reserves Management Plan was approved. The plan was then approved by the Minister of Conservation in January 2010.

In total, 46 submissions were received and 11 people addressed the hearing panel.

Background

The draft Reserve Management Plan was prepared for 14 conservation and landscape reserves within the Nelson area. Collectively these reserves contain important habitats for native plants and animals and provide for a range of informal recreational opportunities such as walking, running and mountain biking.

They also importantly protect Nelson's water supply catchment, form part of the scenic backdrop to Nelson city, contain commercial forestry plantings and contribute to the diversity and beauty of the Nelson area. The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary, a project to develop a pest-free wildlife sanctuary, is a significant activity occurring in the Brook Conservation Reserve covered by this Plan.

Reserves covered by the plan

Conservation Reserves

• Roding Water Reserve
• Maitai  Water Reserve (including Venner Reserve) 
• Brook Conservation Reserve
• Marsden Valley Reserve
• Titoki Reserve
• Pukatea Reserve

Landscape Reserves

• Grampians Reserve
• Tantragee Reserve
• Atmore Reserve
• Sir Stanley Whitehead Park
• Botanical Hill
• Pipers Park
• Bolwell Reserve
• Highview Reserve

The plan proposes

• Only native plants are to be used for revegetation projects in landscape reserves that form the city centre backdrop (such as Sir Stanley Whitehead Park, Grampians Reserve and Botanical Hill). Exotic trees may still be used but only where needed for land stability or as part of plant succession management
• Pest plants and animals are to be controlled in priority reserve areas with high biodiversity values
• Opportunities for walking and mountain biking are to be improved within the conservation estate while ensuring that water quality is protected

Other issues considered are:

• protecting the water supply catchments (Roding and Maitai Water Reserves)
• biodiversity values
• heritage areas such as argillite quarries and old mines
• smaller conservation reserves that have isolation and linkage concerns
• management of geologically significant (ultramafic) areas
• recreation interests such as mountain biking, tramping, multisport events and tourism

Under the Reserves Act 1977, Council is required to prepare reserve management plans for many of its reserves. Generally speaking these plans are to provide for the use, enjoyment, protection and preservation of reserves and depending on resources available, their development.

The Plan sets out the vision, objectives and policies which will guide the future management and use of these reserves.

Prior to the development of the Plan, Council asked the public for contributions on what should be included and received sixteen submissions. This helped to form the direction of the Plan.

Contact

For more information, contact Community Policy and Planning Adviser on +64 3 545 8742.