13 July update

At their meeting on 8 July, Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee considered the written submission made to the Draft Jubilee Park and Percy Scenic Reserve Management Plan.  Five submitters attended the meeting and spoke to the Committee about their submissions individually.

As a result of submitters’ presentations and the proposed changes appended to the officers’ report, a number of changes have been recommended.  These will be considered by Council at their meeting on 21 July 2009.

In summary the alterations to the Draft will incorporate:

1. More clarity about the properties covered by the management plan, including additional information on the title page of the management plan.
2. Reference to transport links will acknowledge train lines and bus routes.
3. The history of Percy Scenic Reserve will incorporate recent history of Percy Scenic Reserve, particularly the management history and recent curators.  It is recognised that this history contributes to the history of the conservation movement nationally.
4. A three year deadline (from 8 July 2009) to conclude site investigations for the Percy Scenic Reserve nursery facilities.
5. Priorities for the focus of plant collections at Percy Scenic Reserve will include:
   1. Threatened species in the Wellington Conservancy (highest priority)
   2. New Zealand alpine species
   3. Coastal and off shore island species

 Note the Conservancy has recently expanded, northwards  

6. Clarification that track development and maintenance in Percy Scenic Reserve and Jubilee Park will comply with Council’s May 2007 document, Making Tracks.
7. Improved clarity to indicate the individual sites/features within the wider Percy Scenic Reserve may be identified, interpreted and presented differently in order to recognise the special character of sites covered by the management plan.
8. correction about flour mill location
9. With regard to Ratanui homestead, attention to be drawn to the house site, house footprint and garden – noting the limitation in the NZTA/HCC licence agreement
10. Provision for active recreation to be made in Jubilee Park, particularly at the site where the skate ramp is currently located.
11. Alteration to statements in the draft management plan about Percy Scenic Reserve advisory group and visitor centre to make it clear that the plan provides for a visitor centre and advisory group, SUBJECT TO COUNCIL APPROVAL.
12. Council’s intention for the botanical components of Percy Scenic Reserve, particularly the collections, to be developed to a level where they are recognised as “nationally significant”.  The draft plan referred to regionally significant.  This represents an upgrade to the botanical content of the site over time.
13. Provision for a wetland on the southern lawn, alongside SH@, noting that a fen is one option to be investigated.  The general theme will be a wetland planted in a simple, natural and botanically appropriate way to make the most of the site conditions.

In addition to the 13 items above, submitters made the following comments:

One submitter specifically sought Council support for the Percy Scenic Reserve staff, noting the tremendous work they do.

One submitter interested in Jubilee Park supported the management plan begin adopted because it sets the scene for small projects to go ahead.  Some of these have been on hold for some time.

One submitter specifically stated appreciation for the beautiful natural values at Percy Scenic Reserve as well as current and previous staff members based at the site.

One submitter was keen to explore the idea of producing separate documents to guide management, standards promotion etc of individual sites in the wider Percy Scenic Reserve area.  This was not supported by the Committee.

Criticism of the historical accuracy of the draft management plan will be addressed by going over the document with those submitters who have identified inaccuracies.  Corrections will be made to the draft.

Any changes approved by Council will result in the draft plan being altered.  It will then be forwarded to the Minister of Conservation for approval.  The plan goes “live” once it has been approved by the Minister. 

Now that the reserve management plan is much closer to being finalised, Council has a clear vision of the purpose of Percy Scenic Reserve and Jubilee Park.  In the next few months officers will look at the developments likely to result from adopting this reserve management plan.  These will be fed into Council’s LTCCP process.  Officers will begin this work in October 2009.