Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Board – Update – May 2012

Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Board update from Board Chair, Brian Gibb.

Contents:

• Mountain Bike Park
• Development Plan
• Increasing the Reserve
• Community Space
• The Store and Commercial Space
• Boat Wash
• The Estuary
• Car Parking
• Estuary Link
• Hesitation Threshold
• Sea Level Rise

Mountain Bike Park.

Following a request by the Board, the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park Inc (who manage and develop the park), presented their Vision Statement for the next three years.

This excellent report outlined the achievements over the last three years and envisaged future development with budgets for the next three.  The Board, already aware of the increased recreational value the park brings to the reserve, which is supported by track counting data,   agreed to support the proposed development.

The three year budget for the Mountain Bike Park development is estimated to be approximately $61,000.  A digger is to be purchased to facilitate this work.

Development Plan.

The plan commissioned by the Board, was presented to the public late last year and submissions were invited.

The Board were thrilled with the level of interest and many excellent submissions were presented. Those who wished to speak to their submission were able to do so, some by teleconference.

The submissions were varied, ranging from “it aint broke, don’t fix it” to wholesale support of our consultant’s plans. Some had spent considerable thought and energy, and presented their own designs.

The recurring or important issues were discussed and the Board resolved the following:

Increasing the Reserve:

The Board continues to explore options to increase Reserve land in the area.

Community Space:

The Board supports the idea of an activity/events space or spaces within the reserve, but not the construction of a specific building at this stage.

The Store and Commercial Space:

The Board has decided to consolidate commercial activity by exploring a combined commercial space, covering the strip from the cafe to the northern boundary of the Manager’s residence, which currently includes the cafe, the store and the managers residence and areas between and  the road at the camp entrance. This new space would include the existing commercial activities together with the Concessionaires booths.

To allow for the extra foot traffic that will occur, the camp entrance could be repositioned at the end of Inlet road and the fuel pumps may be moved from the beach front sometime in the future. There would be no vehicular access to the camp in this area.

Boat Wash:

A boat washing facility will be provided but will be positioned away from the beach front.

The Estuary:

The Estuary has been highly modified, is functioning poorly, and has a build up of sand as a result of afforestation in the hills behind. The best way to improve the ecological functioning of the estuary and to possibly address industrial impacts is to be explored, which may include the removal of the sand overlay and a better margin for recreational use. Done well this area could be stunning. Many regular reserve visitors remember the estuary as a recreational playground twenty or so years ago.

Car Parking:

It is recognised that long term parking (visitors to the Torrent Bay and the Abel Tasman Park, together with commercial operators and overflow from the camp) should be moved away from the beach in the busy season. A management plan to address this will be introduced.

The Board is seeking to re-address the plans for the area currently used for foreshore parking, south of the cafe. An improved gateway to the Reserve and improved foreshore recreation area is still envisaged with the possible retention of some car parking.  This recreational area would then be positioned near the entrance of the estuary which is very popular especially for families. The existing green area beside the mini golf would be used for parking.

The Board has decided that any design work will accommodate the same total number of car parks and boat trailer parks as currently exist in Reserve land  or that  leased by them .

Estuary Link:

The bush line link between the camp to Bethany and the MTB Park is to be advanced alongside the estuary enhancement project.

The Tasman District Council has signalled long term plans to realign Martins Farm road delaying our plan for a board walk/ path around this margin of the estuary. Formalisation of a footpath alongside this road is to be undertaken soon by the council.

Hesitation Threshold:

This is the area at the top of the hill by the cell phone towers, and was signalled by the designers as a possible parking/information area. The Board, while noting the opportunity this area provides has decided not to pursue development of this area.

Sea Level Rise:

Sea level rise will be taken into account in future developments in accordance with local authority and The Ministry of Environment guidelines.

Conclusion.

The Board, while recognising that some aspects of the Development Plan still require fine tuning, are pleased that progress on important strategic planning has been made to take the Reserve forward for the next 20 to 30 years.  Those that made submissions are thanked for their contribution to the planning process.  We realise because of their wide variety, our decisions will not have the accord of everyone, but are made so that the Reserve will continue to be enhanced and enjoyed by the generations to come.

Submissions were also received on the management plan which after consideration may be revised.

Brian Gibb – Chair.