5.2 SECTOR 2: BESTS RIDGE

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1 5.2 SECTOR 2: BESTS RIDGE OVERVIEW Sectr 2 is primarily private land. Apart frm very small remnants f bush lying alng the east flwing stream margins and lcalised plantatin frestry, the entire area is in pasture. The Churtn Park reserves lie abve the residential area and belw the main ridgeline. These are als mainly in pasture. This pastral envirnment is a significant landscape with striking vistas lying abve the mre clsely treed suburban landscape. There is n established track netwrk in this area and this remains ne f the majr gaps in access alng the main Outer Green Belt ridgeline. As develpment extends up Stebbings Valley, demand fr access t this ridge will increase. Sectr 2 has limited eclgical significance and is nt directly cnnected t any f the majr eclgical crridrs. Rather than the creatin f a meaningful eclgical crridr thrugh this area, the pririty shuld be the prtectin f pen pastral landscapes n high areas and a green (planted) fringe adjining the existing and future urban edges (lwer slpes). A number f histric gld mining shafts are present within this sectr. The Tawa Flats All Luck Gld Mining c. f 1881 had shafts in the area including ne which is nw buried beneath Erlestke Crescent ISSUES AND OBJECTIVES Wrking with landwners The predminance f private land des nt, in itself, present an impediment t the bjectives fr the sectr. The fcus n the grassed landscape is cnsistent with nging cmmercial grazing. There is cnsiderable pprtunity t wrk with landwners t negtiate access and encurage the lcatin f buildings away frm ridgelines. Hwever, prtectin as Open Space under the Reserves Act 1977 (with emphasis n the main ridgetp and eastern slpes) culd greatly assist all the bjectives fr this area. Objectives 1. Wrk with landwners t: prevent land uses r the building f structures which wuld have a negative effect n the ridgetp landscape prtect Outer Green Belt values thrugh a variety f apprpriate means. 2. Cnsider land acquisitin pprtunities as they may arise, with a fcus n the main ridgeline and the eastern slpes Access Bests Ridge is ne f tw majr gaps in access alng the main ridge f the Outer Green Belt (the ther is between Kilmister Tps and Makara Hill Rad). Demand fr access alng this sectin has been limited in the past, but with the develpment f Wellingtn s Outer Green Belt Management Plan May

2 Churtn Park and increasing interest in the imprvement f general access t pen spaces in the nrthern suburbs, demand fr access alng this ridge will increase. Managed access acrss farmland, whether private r public, is bth practical and achievable. Objectives 1. Wrk with private landwners t achieve a recreatinal access rute alng the main ridgeline, and at ne r mre side rutes n the eastern side. 2. Once established, include the main ridgeline link as a part f the Skyline Track and, secndarily, as part f the Te Arara Walkway Eclgical linkages and regeneratin f indigenus bush The pprtunities fr eclgical linkages f indigenus vegetatin are limited given the pasture landscape and the very small remnants f bush. Widespread regeneratin f bush is nt sught fr this areas, and the main fcus is n the retentin f the pasture landscape. Hwever, a buffer f vegetatin alng the residential edge is sught intended t sften the urban edge and reflect the need fr greening within the urban envirnment. The fcus here will be n riparian planting t prtect and enhance stream ecsystems. Objective Encurage the develpment f: a buffer f native vegetatin alng the residential edge f the eastern slpes, which results in a cnnected and accessible crridr restratin f riparian planting alng western stream curses Pasture landscape Plantatin frestry is the greatest threat t the existing landscape values f this ridgetp area. Objective Discurage r limit the develpment f plantatin frestry within the area because f the negative effects this will have n existing landscape values. Wellingtn s Outer Green Belt Management Plan May

3 Sectr Tw - Current Frm Airstrip Blck Marshall Ridge Ohariu Valley Bests Ridge Stebbings Valley Churtn Park Reserves Ohariu Valley Rad Ttara Peak 1:20,000

4 Sectr Tw - Future Initatives Negtiate access alng ridge Urban fringe planting (lwer slpes) Develp as a pint f access t OGB and natural backdrps t Churtn Park Maintain pen rural character & prtect ridgetp landscapes 1:20,000

5 5.2.3 MANAGEMENT AREA POLICIES Area 2.1 Churtn Park Reserves Nte: This cluster f reserves lying within the Outer Green Belt will be develped within the verall framewrk set ut abve nce they cme under frmal Wellingtn City Cuncil cntrl. Detailed management prvisins set ut in the Churtn Park Reserves Netwrk: Develpment Strategy, Maintenance and Capital Develpment Plan (an infrmal, nn-statutry plan and nt Wellingtn City Cuncil plicy), will be used where apprpriate, subject t Wellingtn City Cuncil pririties and further landscape planning. Lng term visin Develp as a pint f access t Sectr 2 f the Outer Green Belt fr the residents f Churtn Park and as a natural backdrp t the lcal urban envirnment. Land status Please refer t the accmpanying map and table. Management prgramme Develp lwer slpes as a natural and attractive buffer t the urban landscape. Prvide recreatinal amenities (tracks, etc) cnsistent with the Outer Green Belt character and purpse. Extend access frm these reserves t ther areas as pprtunities arise. Maintain the pen rural character f the upper slpes. Enhance bidiversity mainly by planting in gullies and prtecting existing bush remnants. Implement specific recmmendatins f the Churtn Park Reserves Netwrk: Develpment Strategy, Maintenance and Capital Develpment Plan where apprpriate. Public use and enjyment Public access fr walking, hrse riding and muntain biking will be prvided fr as the main recreatin activities. Wellingtn s Outer Green Belt Management Plan May

6 Sectr Tw - Bests Ridge Cuncil Management Areas 1:6, Churtn Park Reserves Westchester Drive Erlestke Cres Amesbury Drive

7 Management Area Site Name Mapping Reference 2.1 Churtn Park hill reserve Churtn Park hill reserve WCC Site Legal Reserve District Plan number Descriptin CT Reference Land Area Descriptin Gazette Reference Zning Ntes Actins needed Prpsed reserve A Open Space mre apprpriate. Cuncil has nt received title. cnsent and reserves agreement. Open Space B wuld be Reserve t vest in accrdance with Churtn Park subdivisin zning t pen space B Mnitr prgress f reserves agreement. Change Prpsed reserve A Open Space mre apprpriate. Cuncil has nt received title. cnsent and reserves agreement. Open Space B wuld be Reserve t vest in accrdance with Churtn Park subdivisin zning t pen space B Mnitr prgress f reserves agreement. Change