WCC 10 YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE OPEN SPACE ACCESS PLAN
Executive Summary
In May 2004, the Built and Natural Environment Committee approved the Open Space Access Plan (the Plan) and recommended that an implementation plan be prepared with targeted public consultation. The Open Space Access Plan sets out Councils strategic vision for tracks in the citys parks, reserves and open spaces. It aims to strengthen and improve the track network by increasing recreation and tourism opportunities, allowing greater access to all, and having better connections between communities and recreational nodes.
The Implementation Plan provides a link between policy and action. It considers how the vision set out in the Open Space Access Plan can be achieved, provides guidance on setting priorities and making decisions, and creates a framework for the asset management plan. WCC Open Space Implementation Plan
The Plan includes 17 different sectors; each with anything from 1 - 11 different action points, of which these 3 are specifically aimed at beginners mountain bike tracks.
5.2 Investigate feasibility of a childrens beginners mountain bike trail in Karori Park.
5.3 New tracks on Makara Peak Include T3 Trickle Falls track plus a family-friendly track to South Karori car park. Consider Nikau Valley track extension and Allington Road to Snake Charmer. Also St Albans Ave to South Karori Road.
14.1: Up grade and rationalise Mt Victoria tracks including - Investigate feasibility of a childrens / beginners mountain bike trail. Four scenarios have been developed with each scenario based on different levels of implementation with different budgets and timeframes.
Officers recommend Scenario 3 Increase capital funding by $200,000 in 2008/09 onwards to achieve upgrades over 10 years and new tracks over 20 years. This scenario allows Council to allocate an appropriate level of funding to ensure that the life of the existing asset is extended within the next 10 years, as well as achieving new track links over the next 20 years.
The Plans vision is to strengthen and improve the open space access network through a plan that will:
Provide outstanding opportunities for recreation and tourism within the open spaces of Wellington
Ensure that tracks provide for a range of user interests, skills, abilities and fitness levels within each area
Achieve a quality primary network accessing major destination points in Wellington and adjoining districts, and linking with an equitable distribution of secondary and local track networks and recreational facilities.
Having a comprehensive track network is important for a number of reasons. It provides accessibility for recreation, tourism, commuter travel and open space management purposes. It provides access opportunities for recreation, tourism and travel encourages healthy lifestyles and contributes to the citys economic prosperity.
KEY SUPPORTING RATIONALE
4.4 Strategic Fit and Priorities
Implementing the Open Space Access Plan fits with the following Strategic Outcomes
Outcome 1: More liveable, ensuring that our natural environment is accessible to all.
Outcome 2: Stronger sense of place by promoting and encouraging people to access Wellingtons unique open spaces.
Outcome 3: Better connected by taking a big picture view and identifying the key connections between communities, inner city and recreational nodes.
Outcome 8: More Sustainable by offering healthy and low energy transport choices reducing the need for car travel and improving traffic flow.
Outcome 9: Safer by protecting the safety and security of people as they use our parks, reserves and open spaces
Outcome10: Healthier by promoting and encouraging informal recreational activities such as walking, cycling etc.
Outcome 12: More Competitive by attracting and increasing the amount of outdoor recreation events held on the open space estate, realising a comparative advantage over other cities.
4.5 Other relevant strategies, plans and policies
The following section describes how implementing the Open Space Access Plan fits with other citywide open space strategies.
Capital Spaces Open Space Strategy for Wellington (1998)
The provision of better recreational networks is one of the guiding principles of Capital Spaces. Networks of tracks enable people to have the choice of mixing and matching their recreational activities. The more comprehensive the recreational network, the more choice and opportunities it offers for users. In addition, the more accessible recreational opportunities are, the more likely it is that they will be used.
Recreation Strategy (2003)
The implementation of the Open Space Access Plan aligns with the vision of the Recreation Strategy, specifically:
o Providing recreation opportunities through the ongoing availability of open space, and non-motorised transport options.
o Encouraging participation and health through providing adequate opportunities and promotion.
o Ensuring open space recreation is accessible to all by providing a wide range of recreational opportunities without compromising environmental values; linking natural recreation resources (e.g. ridgelines, vegetation corridors and coastal escarpments); providing safe, clearly marked tracks for people to walk, run, ride and that provide accessibility for wheel chairs and prams; links and extensions between already established trail networks; implementing the Open Space Access Plan (2003).
Wellington Tourism Action Plan 2004 2009 A Strategic Update
Wellingtons natural environment has been identified as a key component of the development and expansion for tourism. The track network is an important part of the accessibility of Wellingtons nature based and eco-tourism products.
4.6 Relevant trends and data research
This section outlines some of the demographic changes and relevant trends that have occurred or are projected city-wide. This information assists in portraying what is happening at the community, regional and national level and can be used to make informed decisions.
1/3 of NZers are overweight, 1/5 obese. Almost 1/3 of 15-24yr olds are either overweight (21%) or obese (10%).
Physical inactivity contributes to 2,500 deaths per year in New Zealand. Physical activity is one of the biggest contributors to avoidable death. It's been estimated that a 10 percent increase in participation in physical activity could result in 600 fewer deaths per year.
For youth, cycling, walking and run/jogging were listed in the top 5 active leisure activities for both boys and girls.
Research by SPARC 2004 shows that biking is the number two preferred physical activity for kids aged 5 - 8yrs (after swimming) and number 3 for those 9 - 12 years.
Within Wellington 31% of kids aged 5 - 8 years rate cycling as their number two top leisure activity and for those aged 9 - 12 years it was their third most favourite leisure activity.
However, it is recommended by both the Police and LTSA that children under 10 years don't cycle on the road. So MT Biking is a much safer as well as more fun option!
Wellington City alone has approximately 13,000 primary school age children, for whom the WCC provides NO suitable cycle facilities. In addition to these children are all their parents - some 13,000 - 20,000.
The proportion of young people who live in Wellington and are sedentary has increased significantly. In 1997 7% of young people living in this region were sedentary, but by 2001 this figure had risen to 31%. Sedentary lifestyles increase the risk of disease. A greater awareness of the health benefits of walking, swimming and cycling will be associated with this risk.
Providing attractive open space facilities may help promote greater use by young people.
So if you have kids or just keen to see more people out there enjoying Mountain Biking please lobby your councillor to support scenario 3, with building of Beginners / kids tracks to be a priority.
With out lobbying from bikers, parents, etc, councillors will allocate money for other projects, eg $53M for a new indoor sports venue on Evan Bays!
