Development Design Concept
The design concept at this stage is broad and exploratory. It has ideas, suggestions and options, and as part of the draft management planning process, Council seeks responses to these.
When developed and refined, the design concept will be the basis for future development and improvement to Percy Scenic Reserve.
Click on each picture for a larger view.
Email Kelly.Crandle@huttcity.govt.nz with any questions or feedback.
Key Tasks
- Raise the profile of the reserve.
- Enhance and celebrate the special character of the reserve.
- Provide for a range of visitors and ages.
- Provide diverse experiences, interpretation, recreation and leisure.
- Highlight native planting, natural and heritage features.
- Feature the ex situ and potted plant collections.
- Develop the educational and conservation role of the reserve.
- Highlight propagation of rare and endangered plants from the Wellington region.
- Develop quality reserve entrances.
- Address the loss of the buffer area between SH2 and the nursery.
- Feature quality amenity horticulture in the lower amenity area with imaginative and creative gardens and a mixture of native plants, and safe/benign exotic plants.
- Increase appeal outside of the peak visitor season (September-March).
Main entrance and nursery
An arrival experience incorporating the main entrance and nursery.
An interpretive educational facility.
Alternative nursery site on the lawn side of the utility building and former aviary. Once modified and and upgraded, this existing building will act as a noise buffer from the high and constant level of traffic noise from SH2.
Former nursery site as an additional passive open space with alpine garden.
The nursery open to the public with interpretation, displays and propagating area.
A secure area in the nursery.
Grassed area south-west of the waterwheel
Capitalising on existing boggy areas at the toe of the slope by introducing a
permanent source of water from the outfall from the waterwheel.
A constructed swamp with a boardwalk which links with the main track and pedestrian path along SH2.
Main lower lawn
Judicious thinning of planting on stream banks to reduce visual barriers, link the two lawn areas and create a larger congregating area.
Tracks
Clear track heirarchy with extensions and improved linkages, gradient, alignment, surfacing , edging and steps.
Lower Percy’s Stream
Percy’s Stream is opened up in certain areas to:
- increase flow capacity and slow it down
- make the stream more accessible.
New plant collections
A new plant collection garden with innovative interpretation and access for maintenance.
Composting area to demonstrate good practice.
Flood detention pond, dam face, spillway, and outfall
Interpreting and inviting exploration of this major piece of civil engineering and flood control infrastructure.
Ratanui
Attention drawn to the house site and garden of Sir James Hector and reinterpretation of known elements and themes.
New signs and interpretation
A sign family based on the existing interpretive panels at the Stanhope Grove entrance to Ratanui but in different dimensions and forms.
Frank Cameron Park
An entrance area more strongly integrated with Percy Scenic Reserve and the native vegetation below.
Handrails, barriers, bridges
A family of well-designed and quality handrails and barriers of varying heights, supports and spacings depending on location to provide safety without separation and detracting from things of interest or interrupting attractive vistas.
Reserve furniture and lighting
A family of quality reserve furniture including seats, rubbish bins and lighting
Weta cave
Raising the profile of weta and the weta cave
Reinstate Viewshafts
Views beyond the reserve such as from shelters in Frank Cameron Park and access tracks, the historic summer house location on the Southern Link track and from Rata Track.