Town Belt Management

Managing the Town Belt is complex: it is a large and much treasured open space that is in demand for many uses.

Wellington Town Belt Management Plan

Town Belt management was somewhat ad hoc until 1995 when the Wellington City Council approved a comprehensive management plan following considerable public consultation and research. The stated management aims are:

• A Town Belt which is managed in accordance with the principal intention of the Deed of 1873, which is to keep the Town Belt land forever ‘as a public recreation ground for the inhabitants of the City of Wellington’.
• A sustainably managed Town Belt in which the natural, landscape, cultural and historic values are protected and enhanced.

The plan is contained in two volumes:

• Part One: General policies that apply to the whole Town Belt;
• Part Two: Site-specific policies where required.

The whole plan is available at the Wellington City Library and all or parts of Part One can be downloaded from the Wellington City Council website.

Eight background reports were also published, which are available at the Wellington City Library:

*  Administration and Management               *  Ecology

*  Environmental Forestry                            *  European History

*  Landscape                                              *  Maori History and Interests

*  Public Submissions                                  * Recreation

Issues

Some of the main issues requiring proactive management and community support are:

• Regaining lost land
• Managing vegetation
• The question of appropriate use
• Design standards for utilities