Nelson City Council

Adopted 12 August 2010

The Rutherford and Trafalgar Parks Reserves Management Plan was adopted at the Council meeting of 12 August 2010.

Find out more

For more information please phone Chris Ward, Community Policy and Planning Adviser on 545 8729.

Background

Rutherford Park and Trafalgar Park (including Kinzett Terrace) are important pieces of open space and amenity areas close to the Central Business District of Nelson. The Parks are located next to each other and are, therefore, considered to be a single management area. Together, they lay along the Maitai River, facing the Nelson Haven at the north end. Adjoining both river and coastal land, the Parks also contain two significant community facilities – The Trafalgar Centre and Trafalgar Park, a multi-use sports field and stadium facility by the same name.

Development of the Parks to date has been fragmented and there is a need to have a defined vision for these areas to ensure future development is carried out in a structured way that results in improvements to the Parks and benefits for the community. Council is also required to prepare a Management Plan by the Reserves Act 1977.

What the plan covers

The Plan covers the area occupied by Rutherford Park, Trafalgar Park and Kinzett Terrace. This includes the areas occupied by sports clubs and other community organisations based at Hathaway Terrace and Paru Paru Road.

The Plan sets out the strategic vision for the Parks and the policy framework for addressing key issues:

• The need for the Parks to be accessible, visible and welcoming
• The need for good connections to walking and cycling networks
• The importance of enhancing the links to the Maitai and the Haven
• The need for flexible spaces that can be used for a range of activities.

Developed in consultation with current users of the Parks and other stakeholders, the Plan sets out a vision and high level goals that will be, after it is approved, implemented through a development plan that will go into in more detail about how the Park will be landscaped and developed to improve it for the future. The community will have an opportunity to express views on the development plan when it is written.

The vision for the parks

The three separate Park areas (Rutherford Park, Trafalgar Park and Kinzett Terrace) will grow into one iconic, active urban space which attracts a diversity of people through its integrated landscape, its links with the Maitai River and the Haven, and through its well-designed, multiple-use recreation facilities and areas.

Goals for park management

There are four goals that have been identified, the achievement of which will contribute to the delivery of the vision. These are:

• Accessibility – the Park areas should be accessible, visible and safe. People of all abilities should be able to move into and through the Parks with ease.
• Connectedness – the Parks will be integrated with the wider active transport connections in the City. Landscape links and recreational access to the Maitai, the Haven and Saltwater Creek will be improved. Leaseholder activities will be linked to, and will enhance Park activities.
• Flexibility – the space will develop in a way that meets the needs of current users of the Parks without constraining future uses of the Parks. Spaces will generally be suitable for multiple uses.  
• Activity –Development will focus on providing areas for people to engage in a range of activities, with a mix of formal and informal recreation spaces, and provision for cultural and other events.

Development of the Park based on these principles will transform the space from one which is underused and undervalued into one that is vibrant and a uniquely Nelson destination.

Other issues and policies

The draft Reserve Management Plan contains specific policies for each of the three Park areas, and also contains general policies in relation to:

• Accessibility
• Biodiversity
• Camping
• Car Parking
• Commercial Activities
• Crime Prevention
• Dogs
• Entertainment and events
• Flooding
• Smoke free
• Sustainability
• Utility services

Download

Download the full draft Rutherford and Trafalgar Parks RMP (PDF @ 2.2MB) (2.3MB PDF).