Porirua’s Outdoor Recreation Park€¦ · downhill trails are restricted to mountain bikers they will have no intersections with walkers. Downhill mountain biking will be separated

Porirua’s Outdoor Recreation ParkOutdoor recreation in the western hills of Porirua and Tawa

Spicer ForestSpicer Botanical Park Colonial Knob Scenic ReserveTe Rahui o RangituhiPorirua Scenic Reserve

Porirua City Council Wellington City Council

February 2016

Prepared by:

ISBN 978-1-927291-42-9 (print) 978-1-927291-43-6 (online)

Porirua City Council, Wellington City Council 3 Porirua’s Outdoor Recreation Park, 26 February 2016

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 4

2. PRINCIPLES ................................................................. 6

3. PLACES

3.1. Spicer Botanical Park ................................................. 9

3.2. Spicer Forest and Broken Hill Link ............................. 10

3.3. Te Rahui o Rangituhi .................................................. 11

3.4. Colonial Knob and Porirua Scenic Reserves ............. 14

4. ENTRANCES AND TRAILS

4.1. Main entrance and secondary entrances ................... 15

4.2. Location of trails, trail development and use .............. 16

5. CONNECTIONS

5.1. Recreational connections .......................................... 17

5.2. Ecological connections .............................................. 19

REFERENCES ................................................................. 20

Porirua City Council, Wellington City CouncilPorirua’s Outdoor Recreation Park, 26 February 20164

1. IntroductionThis development plan for an outdoor recreation park is a joint project between Porirua City Council and Wellington City Council. The councils consulted on the draft plan in 2015 and received 348 submissions. The plan was amended in places to deal with issues raised by submitters.

The park is located on land between Titahi Bay to the north and Ohariu Valley to the south and overlooks Porirua Central Business District and Tawa (see Figure 1). The park proposal was initiated by discussion on future management of Spicer Forest where pine harvesting was no longer a viable economic option, and the Porirua City Council purchase and retirement of farmland on Colonial Knob.

The park provides for leisure and unmotorised, informal outdoor recreation. Its location makes it ideal for such activities. It is close to developing urban areas with a diverse and growing population and major transport links. It connects to local, regional and national walking trails and visually and ecologically to Wellington City’s Outer Green Belt and to Porirua City’s western hills, city backdrop and coastline (see Figures 2 & 3). It is the only location in the Wellington Region that can offer mountain biking with everything from easy family loops to intermediate trail riding and downhill racing.

Activities in the park include walking, running, orienteering, on leash dog walking in some areas, horse trekking in Spicer Forest, mountain biking, experiencing native forested areas and bird life in the scenic reserves and enjoying expansive views from Colonial Knob. Decisions on types of recreation for the park and where the different activities take place are based on the ability of the landscape to absorb activities - gradient, vulnerability to erosion, visual prominence, vegetative cover, ecology, and streams.

This development plan is intended to be a guide for implementation of existing policy and the setting of future budgets and work programmes. It identifies a number of actions and capital projects which will be subject to a priority setting process, as well as to the Long Term Plan and to external funders.

The park is made up of five reserve areas, primary and secondary entrances, recreational and ecological connections and a variety of trails:

Spicer Botanical Park - An arboretum that will also become the main park entrance or gateway, is a setting for events and a destination in its own right. Trails lead from Spicer Botanical Park to Spicer Forest, Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve and Te Rahui o Rangituhi (see page 9 for details).

Figure 3: Panoramic view of Porirua’s Outdoor Recreation Park viewed from Aotea

Spicer Forest Spicer Botanical

Park

Colonial Knob Scenic

Reserve

Te Rahui o Rangituhi Porirua Scenic ReserveLandfill

Lower Te Rahui o Rangituhi

Middle Te Rahui o Rangituhi

Rangituhi / Colonial Knob Summit

Tawa Kenepuru Porirua Central Business District

Whitireia Community Polytechnic

Elsdon

Figure 1: Park location

Figure 2: Areas that make up the park

Porirua CBD

Tawa

Porirua Scenic Reserve

Te Rahui o Rangituhi

Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve

Spicer Botanical Park

Landfill

Spicer Forest

To Titahi Bay


Spicer Forest and Broken Hill Link - A multi-use active recreation area within a pine forest behind the landfill and Tawa (see page 10 for details).

Te Rahui o Rangituhi - Retired farmland with three distinct landscape areas and a focus on mountain biking:

• Lower area - accessible with exotic and native trees (see page 11)

• Middle area - highly visible and steep with mixed exotic and native planting (see page 12)

• The summit - an undulating landscape of peaks and troughs, highpoints and expansive 360º views grazed for management (see page 13).

Porirua Scenic Reserve - a significant lowland native forest that is now rare in the region and stretches almost to Titahi Bay (see page 14).

Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve - owned and managed by the Department of Conservation (see page 14).

Entrances - main entrance, secondary entrances and entrances from neighbouring suburbs (page 15).

A variety of trails – for different users, use and difficulty, designed to avoid conflict between users with loop trails of varying distances, some separation, shared trails in places, and the easiest trails closest to park entrances (see page 16).

Recreational and ecological connections - (see pages 17 - 19).

Figure 4: Birds eye view of the park

TAWA

KENEPURUELSDON

Rangituhi/Colonial

KnobSummit

Spicer Forest landfill Spicer Botanical

Park


Reserve

Middle Te Rahui o

Rangituhi

Porirua Scenic

Reserve

Lower Te Rahui o

Rangituhi

Access with carparking

Access with carparking

Access to trails

Access to trails

Existing trails

Spicer access road

Streams

Park boundary

Green connections along stream esplanade/walkway

KEY

RAILWAY LINE

RAIHA STREET

BROKEN HILL ROAD

MAIN ROAD - from Tawa PROSSER STREETRaiha Walkway

Mitchell S

tream Esplanade Reserve

OHARIU VALLEY ROAD

TO TITAHI BAY


HOSPITAL DRIVEKenepuru Hospital


2. Principles

Eighteen principles under six broad headings guide development and management of the park.

SUSTAINABILITY

1. The places, facilities and services we provide are environmentally and financially sustainable, well-maintained and connected for biodiversity and people.

2. Developments planned to meet local and regional needs are considered with reference to existing regional provision and scale in order to complement rather than compete with existing facilities.

We need to capitalise on our strengths. We cannot provide all things to all people. We are part of a wider Wellington region and should build on our people, facilities and natural assests.

PROTECTION

3. Recreational activities are sympathetic to the landscape and protect, ecology, natural and heritage features.

Decisions on the location of places and types of recreation are based on the ability of the landscape to absorb the activity. Recreation development will be limited in areas that are steep, visually prominent, prone to erosion and where development will have negative effects on native vegetation and habitat.

4. Biodiversity connections between places within the park and between the park and Wellington Outer Green Belt and Stuart Park through plant and animal pest control and restoration.

5. Park development, selection of routes for trails, trail construction and long term management practices protect the park’s natural values, streams and water catchments from sediment loss.

A rigorous trail approval process, including ecological assessment, will be required before routes are approved for construction. Trails will be designed and constructed to best practice standards and will avoid riparian margins, significant vegetation and habitats, and where practicable steep erosion-prone land. Measures will be taken to prevent sediment from entering stream systems.

Reserve values will be carefully protected in Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve and Porirua Scenic Reserve. Areas to avoid will be identified, tracks will detour rather than cut or remove vegetation that is identified as important and the tree canopy will remain closed to prevent light wells and weed infestation. Tree form will be retained when seeking height clearances and structures will be considered rather than disturbing natural features and vegetation.

View of Te Rahui o Rangituhi and Porirua Scenic Reserve from central Porirua.

Mountain bike trails suitable for a range of users, ages and abilities. Image: Hinton Skills Park, Hinton, AB (www.hoots.ca)

View of Porirua Central Business District from Te Rahui o Rangituhi.

View of Porirua shopping centre with Colonial Knob and Porirua Scenic Reserve as a backdrop, photographed from Porirua East on 21 August 1967 by an unidentified Evening Post staff photographer. The Dominion Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library http://tapuhi.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/spydus/FULL/GLOBAL/OPHDR/515/882397

View south towards the site. Photographed by Sydney Charles Smith, circa 1920s. http://tapuhi.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/spydus/FULL/GLOBAL/OPHDR/514/433327

Porirua in 1900, with Porirua Hospital in the right background with the park’s location behind. http://tapuhi.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/spydus/FULL/GLOBAL/OPHDR/510/424679


6. Maori heritage is recognised, highlighted and protected.

The area is important to Ngāti Toa, in particular the peaks, ridgeline and native forested areas.

7. Heritage is highlighted and protected.

Heritage includes pastoral farming on Rangituhi / Colonial Knob and reservoirs in Colonial Scenic Reserve, the water supply for Porirua Hospital.

CONNECTIONS

8. Places within the park and facilities are connected via trails so people can move from one place to another.

Connections will be improved between Spicer Forest, Spicer Botanical Park and Te Rahui o Rangituhi and through the scenic reserves.

9. The park connects to Porirua and the wider Wellington area.

Access to the park from neighbouring suburbs will be planned as a part of development in areas such as Stebbings Valley and Kenepuru, as well connections to the Outer Green Belt, Stuart Park, Titahi Bay and Whitireia Park.

10. The park is easy to find with clearly delineated routes, wayfinding along key roads, walkways and cycleways and easily identifiable park entrances.

RECREATION

11. Activities in the park cater for all ages and abilities, with a focus on family/whanau recreation.

12. Barriers to participation are avoided or minimised.

Loop walks and mountain bike trails of varying lengths and grades, easy walks and beginner mountain bike trails centred around entrances with more challenging experiences located further away. Facilities may include toilets, picnic tables, interpretive shelters, seating, wayfinding, barbecues and bike wash down areas.

13. Management of conflicts between park users.

Location and design of trails will minimise conflict between different users. In places, use will be separated or restricted to downhill mountain biking. When downhill trails are restricted to mountain bikers they will have no intersections with walkers. Downhill mountain biking will be separated from the 4-wheel drive track and other track users through Colonial Knob.

Track under construction linking lower Te Rahui o Rangituhi with Spicer Botanical Park.

Spicer Botanical Park entrance area.

Existing trail in lower Te Rahui o Rangituhi.

Rangituhi / Colonial Knob infrastructure facilities. Tidy up, interpret and allow access to highpoints for views.

View of the park from State Highway One.

View from Rangituhi / Colonial Knob towards Mana Island.


In the scenic reserves, trails will be designed to maintain the safety of walkers and mountain bikers. In some cases the environment will not be able to sustain a track design that is wide enough for shared two-way use. In these cases, one way mountain bike travel will be considered or routes separated.

14. The park as an educational asset.

Interpretive themes throughout the park include Spicer Botanical Park arboretum of exotic trees in the context of the neighbouring native forest of the scenic reserve, ‘exchange’ aspects of Spicer landfill with recycling/exchange of goods, streams, water treatment through reed beds in Spicer Botanical Park, modern landfill management, waster minimisation and telecommunication infrastructure.

15. Opportunities for sightseeing and development of viewpoints.

Communication towers are located on high points and views from these high points are panoramic. Now that the area is publicly accessible, the dominance of these facilities on key viewpoints is an issue, as is maintenance standards of the buildings, fences, gates and other structures associated with these communication towers.

Enhancing access to the viewpoints and improving the appearance of infrastructure is important. Views will be protected through grazing and careful location of planting on the tops.

16. Appropriate commercial concessions within the park.

These include mountain bike hire and shuttling, commercial vehicle access to Rangituhi / Colonial Knob summit for sightseeing, and food or coffee carts.

LANDFILL

17. As landfill areas are retired they are appropriately treated and integrated into the park over time.

ADVISORY GROUP

18. The Councils will set up an advisory group to assist with detailed trail and facility development planning.

Representatives will be sought from Ngati Toa and a range of users such as mountain bikers, multi-sports, walkers, horse riders, ecologists and interested members of the public. From time to time others with particular expertise will be asked to join the group.

Entrance to Spicer Botanical Park from recycling centre. Develop and connect the park to the recycling centre.

Spicer landfill - plant densely along edges to screen and stop rubbish blowing into the park.

Reduce rubbish in outfall in Spicer Botanical Park (below recycling centre).

Ohariu Stream at the top of Ohariu Valley.

Spicer forest.

View of Spicer Forest beyond Tawa.


• Picnicking

• Bike skills development

• On leash dog exercise. No dogs on mountain bike trails.

3.1. Spicer Botanical Park - main entrance and park hub

OBJECTIVE

Spicer Botanical Park developed as the main entrance to the wider recreation park and a destination in its own right within a stream and treed landscape.

FACILITIES (see Figure 5)

ACTIVITIES

LAND MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Main entry with information,facilities and carparking

Car parking

Enhanced landscape appreciation, paths,

viewpoints, lookouts and clearings

Improved connection to recycling area

Improvedentrance to

Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve

Highlight contrasting exotic trees of the botanical park with native forest of the

Scenic reserve

BRO

KEN

HIL

L R

OAD

Recycling

area

To Te Rahui o Rangituhi

Key:

Development Areas

Open Picnic Areas

Link to Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve

NB Stream access subject to water quality

To Spicer access road

Trail to Spicer Forest Activity Area via ridge

To Reservoir One,

Te Araroa and

Rangituhi / Colonial

Knob Summit

Improve

d access

and interpret w

ater

treatm

ent through

reed beds

Reinstate

stream walkway

MIT

CH

ELL

STR

EAM

ReservoirTwo

To Reservoir One,

Te Araroa and

Rangituhi / Colonial

Knob Summit

Buffer p

lanting

between the park

and landfi ll

Improve fi sh passage

Exotic vegetation in Spicer Botanical Park contrasting with the native vegetation of Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve in the background.

View of landfill from the botanical park. Planting will screen the landfill.

Stream and footbridge within Spicer Botanical Park.

Figure 5: Concept for development of Spicer Botanical Park as the park’s main entrance.

• Arboretum of exotic trees

• Picnic areas

• Walkways and viewpoints

• Walk and cycle trails leading to other areas in the park

• Interpretation of existing water treatment through reed beds

• Walking

• Activities associated with trail head - bike washdown etc

• Dense planting between the landfill and the park

• Management and interpretation of exotic tree arboretum

• Stream protection and management

• Removing barriers to fish passage in Mitchell Stream.

Existing New

• Bike skills development area

• Shelters and information

• Increased carpark capacity

• Toilets

• Bike-washing stations


OBJECTIVES

1. Trails within a forest of pine trees which the naturally regenerating native broadleaf forest will replace over time. For horses, walkers, runners, orienteering etc and mountain bikers.

2. Use of the Spicer access road to connect Ohariu Valley Road and Spicer Botanical Park via the Broken Hill Link trail.

Spicer access road in Spicer Forest

Location for parking at entrance to Spicer access road from Ohariu Road.

Spicer access road in Spicer Forest.

View up Broken Hill Road to Broken Hill Link, the landfill and the northern edge of Spicer Forest (looking south).

Broken Hill Link meets Spicer access road (looking south with the landfill out of the picture to the right).

FACILITIES

ACTIVITIES


FURTHER INVESTIGATION

• Horse trekking

• Mountain biking along Spicer access road

• Walking, running, orienteering

• On leash dog exercise.

Existing

• Spicer access road linking Ohariu with Spicer Botanical Park

• Carparking

• Broken Hill Link trail

New

• Trails for horses, walking and

mountain biking

• Information and wayfinding

3.2. Spicer Forest and Broken Hill Link

• Dense planting between trails and the landfill with gaps for views of landfill activities

• Long term planting and restoration plan to replace aging pines trees with native vegetation

• Riparian planting along Ohariu Stream and horse trails located away from the stream and its tributaries to avoid sediment getting into the stream

• Management of the western side of Spicer Forest (west of Ohariu Stream) for native understorey regeneration as wind damaged pines and windthrow open up areas

• Partnership with landfill management on access, security, trail development and management of landfill smell and rubbish (particularly plastic bags) blowing onto the area.

• Connections with Northern Wellington suburban areas, especially from Upper Stebbings Valley, Redwood Bush and Katarina Grove

• Trail links with Council reserves at 944 Ohariu Valley Road to integrate it into the park experience

• As landfill areas are retired treat them in an appropriate manner that allows for integration into the park over time e.g. contouring and treatment to allow recreational use and appropriate planting

• Once the landfill is retired, develop alternative access through the landfill area between Spicer Forest and Spicer Botanical Park.


3.3. Te Rahui o Rangituhi

OBJECTIVE

1. A whanau friendly destination for walking, mountain biking and sightseeing with a range of walking and mountain bike trails for beginners, intermediate and advanced mountain bikers.

Lower Te Rahui o Rangituhi

FACILITIES

Existing

• Vehicle and cycle access from Raiha Street and Broken Hill Road (Spicer Botanical Park)

• Spicer Link and Tumeke mountain bike trails

• 4-wheel drive track.

View down onto part of Te Rahui o Rangituhi showing mixed exotic and native trees.

Lower Te Rahui o Rangituhi near Raiha Street, suitable for mountain bike trails and car parking.

Spicer Link trail from the Raiha Street entrance to Spicer Botanical Park.

New

• Whanau friendly mountain bike trails within existing trees where children and beginners can develop skills

• Some new mountain bike trails (refer 4.2)

• Improved access from Raiha Street.

ACTIVITIES

• Whanau beginner and intermediate mountain biking with opportunities for children to learn and develop skills in an environment that can be enjoyed by the whole family

• On leash dog walking (no dogs on mountain bike trails).


• Manage silt in accordance with best practice to support outcomes of the Harbour Strategy

• Improvement of the amenity of ponds and wet gullies and their indigenous biodiversity

• Control of weeds and pest animals to facilitate natural regeneration with some additional planting of native species

• Implement planting plans (Resource Consent requirement when constructing tracks)

• Tree management to allow recreation e.g. tree crown lifting and thinning.


Middle Te Rahui o Rangituhi

FACILITIES

Existing

• The existing 4-wheel drive track to the summit maintained and used by walkers, up hill mountain bikers, limited mountain biking shuttle, and for authorised personnel to reach the communication towers (contractors, VHS club members, Porirua City council officers etc).

New

• Some mountain bike downhill trails of varying degrees of difficulty, separated from other users with no intersections with other user trails (refer 4.2).

ACTIVITIES

• Separated downhill mountain biking trails

• Walking, running, orienteering

• Sightseeing

• On leash dog walking, but no dogs on mountain bike trails

• Riding for the disabled along the 4-wheel drive track to the upper area until their likely move from Kenepuru. After that time horse riding will be restricted to booked events

• Applications invited for a commercial concession for a shuttle/4-wheel drive vehicle service along the existing access road to transport mountain bikers and sightseers to Rangituhi / Colonial Knob. This will allow visitors who would otherwise be unable to experience the expansive views from the summit.


• Weeds and pest animals controlled to facilitate natural native species regeneration with some additional planting of native species

• Some suitable exotic species may be planted to help stabilise erosion-prone slopes

• Retire former 4-wheel drive tracks apart from the existing access road to the summit


• Development of the downhill mountain bike routes must consider and reduce negative effects on erosion, existing vegetation and visibility of tracks from the valley floor and the city

• Identify and map geotechnical issues so track construction avoids areas where land instability may cause risk to users and to reduce risks of erosion.

View onto steep erosion prone slope below the lower telecommunications tower. Native vegetation regeneration along with some planting will reduce erosion.

Skyline of Middle Te Rahui o Rangituhi with Telecommunications tower when viewed from central Porirua.

Existing 4-wheel drive track up to Rangituhi / Colonial Knob Summit with Porirua Harbour visible in the distance. The track is to be developed as a shared trail.


View from Rangituhi / Colonial Knob. Sightseers will be able to experience an environment that is completely different from Porirua Central Business District only a short ride away.

The remnant peneplain of Rangituhi / Colonial Knob - hills and troughs.

View to Rangituhi / Colonial Knob summit from SH1.

Rangituhi / Colonial Knob Summit

FACILITIES ACTIVITIES

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION


• Walking

• Mountain bike trails

• Tourism and sightseeing

• Picnicking

• Managed 4-wheel drive

• Riding for the disabled along the 4-wheel drive track to the upper area until their likely move from Kenepuru. After that time horse riding will be restricted to booked events

• Grazing.

• Views protected

• Fencing and two locked gates to control stock with recreational access on the main track

• No access for dogs through the gates to the grazed area of Rangituhi / Colonial Knob summit and dogs prohibited on mountain bike trails


• Protection and restoration of sensitive wetland areas and gullies

• Weed control to allow natural revegetation and additional native planting to connect Porirua and Colonial Knob Scenic Reserves

• Improved maintenance standards of buildings, gates and fences associated with communication towers on key viewpoints

• The ridgeline is grazed to control gorse and weeds and to retain an open landscape, views and fire buffer to the Scenic Reserves.

• Public access to key viewpoints with transmission towers

• Access from the summit to Spicer Forest for mountain bikers.

Figure 5: Viewpoints map Based on information prepared by Landmark Consulting Ltd.

Mana and Kapiti Islands

Tawa and Newlands

Tawa, Johnsonville

South Island and Upper Ohariu Valley

Belmont Hills and

Pauatahanui Inlet Porirua

South Island

Existing

• Existing access road to the summit for walkers, uphill mountain biking and for authorised personnel to reach the communication towers (contractors, VHS club members, Porirua City council officers etc).

New

• Some mountain bike trails (see 4.2)

• Shelter structures that are sympathetic to the landscape and that will enhance the mountain biking and sightseeing/tourism experience

• Commercial shuttles

• Interpretation of views and natural, cultural and landscape heritage.


3.4. Colonial Knob and Porirua Scenic Reserves

OBJECTIVES

1. Protect the scenic reserves and their ecological values, regionally threatened ecosystems and rare examples of lowland forest with podocarp species, kohekohe and tawa.

2. Allow walking and mountain biking in parts of the reserves.

NB No dogs or horses are allowed in the Scenic Reserves.

Porirua Scenic Reserve

FACILITIES

Existing New

ACTIVITIES

• Walking, mountain biking, and running.

Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve walkway entrance.

Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve offers a range of trails and experiences.

Reservoir Two in Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve.

• Colonial Knob Walkway. • New shared trail ascending from Raiha Street for walkers and uphill mountain biking only if practicable

• Upgraded shared loop trail between Rangituhi Crescent in Takapuwahia to the scenic reserve’s Raiha Street entrance using part of the new shared path if practicable.


• A walking and mountain bike trail through Porirua Scenic reserve to Titahi Bay via public land that buffers Porirua Water Treatment Plant.

Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve (Department of Conservation owned and managed)

FACILITIES

Existing New

ACTIVITIES

• Walking and mountain biking - mountain biking between Spicer Botanical Park and Lower Te Rahui o Rangituhi on the trail known as ‘The Doctor’.


• Remedial work to retain the lake at the remaining reservoir for heritage (Reservoir One has deteriorated and is now a wetland).

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF BOTH SCENIC RESERVES

• All unauthorised tracks will be closed

• Trails in the scenic reserves will have increased specifications for protection of the reserves (see section 3.6 for details)

• Mountain bike trails will be developed with a rigorous trail approval process

• Resource Consent conditions for trail construction granted for Te Rahui o Rangituhi will be applied to the construction of trails.

• Consider an all abilities path from Spicer Botanical Park to the remnants of the two historical reservoirs to allow wider access to this popular and accessible trail (with DoC).

• Walking trail from Spicer Botanical Park through the scenic reserve to the top of Spicer Forest and Te Araroa National Walkway

• Mountain bike trail ‘The Doctor’ through the scenic reserve linking Spicer Botanical Park to Te Rahui o Rangituhi and Raiha Street (constructed in 2015)

• Te Araroa National Walkway where it passes through the scenic reserve currently for walkers only.

Porirua City Council, Wellington City Council 15 Porirua’s Outdoor Recreation Park, 26 February 2016 15

4.1 Main entrance and secondary entrances

OBJECTIVE

1. Spicer Botanical Park as the main entrance, three secondary entrances with carparking and a range of cycle and walkway entrances.

MAIN ENTRANCE

• Spicer Botanical Park developed as the gateway to the wider park with increased carparking, information, interpretation and facilities.

SECONDARY ENTRANCES

• Secondary entrances with carparking at Raiha Street at the start of the 4-wheel drive track and at Camp Elsdon, and Ohariu Valley Road.

IMPROVED ENTRANCES

• Improved walk and cycleway entrances from neighbouring suburban areas (Tawa at Chastudon Place, Elsdon at Aparangi and Waiho Crescents, Takapūwāhia at Rangituhi Crescent).

FUTURE ENTRANCES

• Entrances, some with carparking, from Wellington northern suburbs when development occurs (such as Kiwi Crescent, Redwood Bush Reserve and Stebbings Valley)

• Entrance from Titahi Bay with a trail to Porirua Scenic Reserve via public land that buffers Porirua Water Treatment Plant.

Raiha Street entrance to Raiha Walkway between Raiha Street and central Porirua.

Existing car park at Spicer Botanical Park lacks capacity. Existing entrance to Broken Hill Link from Chastudon Place.

Figure 6: Entrances

RAIHA STREET

Vehicle parking and beginning of trails

Car parking at end of Ohariu Valley Road

Car parking from Raiha Street, improve entrance to existing cycle and walkway

Katarina Grove

Chastudon Place

Kiwi Crescent

Redwood Bush Reserve

Future entrance from

Stebbings Valley

Raiha Street Elsdon

Camp

Aparangi Crescent

(Waiho Crescentand

Rangituhi Crescententrances to the

north)

•

Main entrance

Secondary entrances

Existing entrances from neighbouring suburbs

Future entrances

Existing trails

Spicer access road

Streams

KEY

BROKEN HILL ROAD

MAIN ROAD

Raiha walk and

cycleway


To Titahi Bay


4.2 Locations of trails, trail development and use

OBJECTIVES

MOUNTAIN BIKING

The focus for mountain biking in the park is to:

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

TAWA


Reserve

Spicer Forest

landfill Spicer Botanical

Park


Porirua Scenic

Reserve

RAIHA STREET

Kenepuru Hospital

BROKEN HILL ROAD

MAIN ROAD

TAWAELSDON

OHARIU VALLEY

ROAD

i

RANGITUHI

CRESCENT

Future connection to Wellington’s northern suburbs

Futureconnection to Titahi Bay

a

b

c

d

ef

g

h

Figure 7: Trail locations and use

Walking only

Existing 4-wheel access road utilised for shared route to summit. Walking, uphill mountain biking, 4-wheel drive shuttle/sightseeing (with horse trekking for Riding for the Disabled until their move from Kenepuru).

Mountain biking only

Walking and mountain biking

Walking and mountain biking along Spicer access road and Spicer Link.

KEY - Solid lines are existing trails and dotted lines new trails. NB Locations of trails are approximate.

b

a

c

d

Broken Hill Link

Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve trail

Spicer Link

The Doctor

Tumeke

Porirua Scenic Reserve trail

e

f

g Trail for walking, running, mountain biking looping between Raiha Street and Rangituhi Crescent

Trail restricted to uphill mountain biking only

Te Araroa National Walkway (includes Rangituhi / Colonial Knob gazetted walkway)

i

h

a

Indicative trails for horse trekking, walking and mountain biking in Spicer Forest with some separation of different uses.

No dogs are allowed in Scenic Reserves, through the gates to the grazed area of Rangituhi / Colonial Knob summit and on mountain bike trails. Elsewhere are dogs allowed on a leash except on mountain bike trails where dogs are not allowed.

No horses are allowed in scenic reserves.

1. Tracks will be environmentally sustainable amd affordable in the long term.

2. Wherever possible, separate users to ensure their safety in places where there are likely to be conflicts, particularly between fast bikes and walkers or horses.

3. When developing tracks aim to get downhill bikers off the 4-wheel drive track onto easy, intermediate and difficult tracks with no, or limited, intersections with walkers or horses.

4. If shared two-way use is not safe (through the track needing to be wider or otherwise designed than can be sustained by the environment) then consider one-way mountain biking travel, or in some places, separated routes.

5. Careful design of tracks in the scenic reserves to maintain the safety of users and to protect the natural environment.

6. Some exclusive booking of reserves for major single-user events is allowed.

• Have a family focus

• Create mountain biking opportunities for children to learn and develop skills in an environment that can be enjoyed by the whole whanau

• Provide skill development

• Be a destination for mountain biking with a network of tracks on Te Rahui o Rangituhi that cater for a variety of skills. The trail network will complement and provide different opportunities to those in the rest of the Wellington Region

• Create an optimal number of trails that the land can sustain, and that provide a range of grades to achieve objectives. It is noted that there are limited grade 4 trails in the Wellington region.

• Specifications will be increased for trails in the scenic reserves. This will include areas to avoid, construction requirements e.g. no root cutting, detours rather than cuts, keep the canopy intact, avoid destroying the form of trees when seeking height clearances and consider structures instead of disturbance

• Unauthorised tracks will be closed

• The Resource Consent conditions for trail construction granted for Te Rahui o Rangituhi will be applied to the construction of all trails. A copy of the conditions is attached as Appendix 2

• A project advisory group used to review the detailed trail network plan to ensure objectives are met and a suitable range of activities are provided.


Connections from Tawa

Expand connections to Stuart Park, Titahi Bay, Whitireia Park

Improve links between Raiha Walkway and

Porirua city centre and train station

Potential future connections along Mitchell Stream

Develop distinctive signage and wayfinding from key roads including Transmission Gully/Kenepuru Interchange

Figure 8: Northern Connections

Gap in reserves network for mountain biking, currently

access over private land for walkers only.

Major roads

Railway line

Improved connections

Existing trails

Spicer access road

KEY

5.1. Improving recreational connections

OBJECTIVE

1. Improve existing connections and establish new connections so that the public can make their way easily to the park from central Porirua, public transport routes (including the railway station), Wellington suburbs and wider trail networks.

ACTIONS

Northern Connections

1. Develop distinctive signage to improve wayfinding and lead visitors to the park.

2. Better define and improve walkway and cycle connections to the park using existing roads, reserves and pathways from central Porirua and the Railway Station along:

- Raiha Street

- Broken Hill Road

- Prosser Street

- Tawa

- Elsdon

- Titahi Bay

- Raiha Walkway.

3. Fill gaps in the existing reserve networks where easements or strategic land acquisition would connect parts of the park for all users:

- Between Rangituhi / Colonial Knob summit and Spicer Forest

- A small area south of Spicer Forest to connect with Wellington Outer Green Belt.

RAIHA STREET

BROKEN HILL ROAD

MAIN ROAD - from Tawa PROSSER STREET


OHARIU VALLEY ROAD


KEY

LARS

EN

CRES

CENT

REDWOOD AVENUE

ORIEL AVENUE

MAIN ROAD

BEST’S RIDGE

To Johnsonville OHARIU VALLEY ROAD

Forest of Tane

Gap in trail network (private land)

Redwood Bush Reserve

Marshalls Ridge

Entrance to Spicer Forest

Figure 9: Southern Connections

Churton Park Stebbings Valley

Major roads

Railway line

New connections

Land in public ownership

Existing walkways (approximate locations)

Park boundary

Spicer access road

Te Araroa National Walkway

Tawa

Southern Connections

1. Overtime develop connections between Spicer Forest, Wellington suburbs, reserves and development areas from (see Figure 9):

- Tawa

- Redwood Bush Reserve

- Stebbings Valley and Churton Park.


5.2. Enhancing ecological connections

OBJECTIVES:

1. Connect the native forests of Colonial Knob and Porirua Scenic Reserve across Te Rahui o Rangituhi.

2. Protect and enhance riparian habitat of streams, dam and wet seepage areas through best practice track development, weed and animal and plant pest control and supplementary planting as necessary.

3. Allow the dominant radiata pine cover in Spicer Forest to change over time to native broadleaf forest as pine trees fail, producing light wells and allowing natural regeneration of native species.

4. Exclude trail development and recreation activities in Spicer Forest west of Ohariu Stream where radiata pine trees have been damaged by wind, and allow the existing native understorey to naturally regenerate.

ACTIONS

• Connect the scenic reserves through weed, animal and plant pest control and plant to supplement natural native species regeneration immediately above and below the lower communications tower on middle Te Rahui o Rangituhi

• Weed control and supplementary riparian planting along Mitchell Stream, Ohariu Stream, dams and wet seepage areas on Te Rahui o Rangituhi and remove the fish barriers in Spicer Botanical Park

• Maintenance of fencing for stock control on Rangituhi / Colonial Knob summit area

• Stabilise land in Te Rahui o Rangituhi through planting

• Monitor and manage exotic tree stands in lower Te Rahui o Rangituhi and Spicer Forest as part of development for recreation

• Maintain former reservoirs in the Department of Conservation Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve as lake/wetland areas.

Links with WCC reserves

and Outer Green Belt

Open ridgeline for views. Scenic reserves

and gullies/wetlandsfenced to extend native

cover

Weed control and riparian planting along Mitchell

Stream Esplanade Reserve.

Native forest enhances bird corridor to and from Mana

Island

Links with Stuart ParkImpact on Mitchell Stream from landfill runoff minimised through sound management practices

Former reservoirs, maintained as lake/wetland areas with riparian

vegetation

Develop further a green corridor linking with city centre and

railway station

Mixed native and exotic planting

Native restoration planting to link scenic reserves

Ohariu Stream

Pine forest managed with emerging broadleaf forest and riparian planting along

Ohariu Stream

Figure 10: Ecological Connections

KEY

Streams

Ecological links

RAIHA STREET

BROKEN HILL ROAD

MAIN ROAD HOSPITAL DRIVEKenepuru Hospital


References

Our Natural Capital -Draft Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, Wellington City Council, January, 2015.

Our Capital Spaces: An Open Spaces and Recreation Framework 2013-23, Wellington City Council, 2013.

City Revitalisation Plan. Porirua City Council, 2009.

Climate Change Action Plan. Wellington City Council, June 2010.

Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve. Walkways Brochure. Department of Conservation, Wellington Conservancy, 2007.

Colonial Knob Walk, Tawa Historical Society Ltd. William Secker. http://www.tawahistory.wellington.net.nz/projectsseeker2_articles.html. Accessed 7/05/2010.

Te Rahui o Rangituhi Planting Plan. Landmark Consulting Ltd, August 2015.

Ecological Restoration Priorities for the Porirua Stream and its Catchment. Blaschke and Rutherford Environmental Consultants, May 2009.

Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan. Porirua City Council. 2009-19.

Northern Growth Management Framework. Wellington City Council, 2003.

Northern Reserves Management Plan. Wellington City Council, August 2008.

Ohariu Valley Rural Community Plan. Wellington City Council, 2001.

Open Space Access Plan. Wellington City Council, December 2008.

Porirua City District Plan (Operative 9 March 2010). Porirua City Council, March 2010.

Porirua City Long Term Plan 2012-22. Porirua City Council.

Porirua City Reserves Management Plan. September 2013.

Quality of Life Survey 2008: Topline Summary Porirua City, 2014.

Recreation and Open Space - A Strategy for Porirua 2012-2022. July 2012.

“The Redwoods - Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand” http://www.redwoods.co.nz. Accessed 21/06/2010.

Spicer Forest Joint Venture Forest Management Options - Discussion Document. Wellington City Council.

Spicer Landfill Asset Management Plan. Porirua City Council, June 2009.

“Strategic Land Purchase - Colonial Knob”. Porirua City Council, Strategy, Finance and Regulatory Committee. 19th November 2008.

Tree and Vegetation Policy. Porirua City Council, June 2009.

“The Forest Park Conservancy”. http://forestparkconservancy.org Accessed 3/06/2010.

Walkways Information: Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve. Department of Conservation.

Wellington City District Plan (Operative 27/7/00). Wellington City Council.

Wellington City Long Term Council Community Plan 2006-2016. Wellington City Council.

Wellington’s Outer Green Belt Management Plan. Wellington City Council. May 2004.

Wellington Regional Strategy Website. http://www.wrs.govt.nz/. Accessed 18/3/2011.

Documents

Porirua’s Outdoor Recreation Park€¦ · downhill trails are restricted to mountain bikers they will have no intersections with walkers. Downhill mountain biking will be separated