Parks and forests
Greater Wellington manages five regional parks and provides access to other forests and recreation areas in the region – nearly 50,000 hectares in total.
Last summer our Regional Outdoors programme of over 40 events in the regional parks and forests was the most successful ever. Attendance was double previous years, largely due to co-operation with other organisations, such as community groups and local councils. An estimated 807,000 people visited the parks throughout the year, similar to the previous year.
One hundred permits were given for four-wheel drive and motorbike usage, and 85 motorised events were held in the Akatarawa Forest. Hunters were also granted restricted access to recreational hunting areas.
Community groups have actively helped out in the parks with weed control, checking pest bait stations, planting days and organising walks and talks. The Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park was formed earlier this year, successfully uniting different parts of the community, and will assist with the use and direction of this, our most heavily used park.
New information and direction signs are being installed at the parks. These show visitors what opportunities there are in the parks and teach them about the natural environment. They also help prevent people getting lost.
Greater Wellington began a new ranger service at East Harbour Regional Park in October 2003. The park includes the forested hills between Eastbourne and Wainuiomata and the area around the Pencarrow Lakes. A start has been made to bring the facilities in East Harbour up to the standard of other regional parks. In all our parks and forests we undertake pest control, to mitigate the impact on native plants, birds and insects.
We are reviewing our management plans for regional parks, in consultation with the community. We finalised the network management plan in December 2003, have begun reviews of the Belmont and Kaitoke regional parks plans, and the forest lands plan is out for public comment.