Aotea Lagoon Reserve

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Location

Suburb
Papakowhai

Primary Purpose of Reserve
Public Gardens

Values & Outcomes

Tapu Site.

Community contributions to the development of the Park (Rotary, Waitangirua Lions and Paremata Jaycees).

Ducks and fish species. Woodland trees.

1 (E2A1) Artificially controlled tidal lagoon on the eastern edge of Porirua Harbour. Lagoon is surrounded by planted native and introduced amenity vegetation.

Secondary ecological values representing a rare ecosystem, providing fish habitat and linking between similar coastal lagoons. Retains ecosystem services value as sink for nutrients and road contaminants, preventing them from reaching Porirua Harbour.

Easily accessible, low cost.

Passive casual relaxing (strolling, duckpond, gardens).

Informal, low impact recreation.

Children's play (playground, splash pad, train, cycling).

Family-friendly activities, picnicking, BBQs.

Exercise (walking, jogging, cycling).

Community events/concerts.

This is not a Crown Derived Reserve but is subject to marginal strips. High amenity gardens, including rose garden and shade house.

Peaceful, safe and tranquil atmosphere.

Sculptures.

Public perceptions:

1.  A Place for Everyone

2.  Pleasantness, Cohesion and Harmony

3.  Good for Physical and Mental Wellbeing

4.  A Wide Range of Recreational Opportunities

5.  Good for Wildlife

Vegetation provides backdrop and amenity to Aotea Lagoon; amenity plantings include exotic specimen trees which form a corridor between SH1 and the lagoon. Vegetation is an important part of a well cared for and high profile open space, and complements recreational activities.

Utilities (Critical): Sewer.

Utilities (Important): Stormwater.

Manage as three zones: Garden Zone (A), Lagoon Zone (B) and Play Space Zone (C).  

• Zone Map for Aotea Lagoon

All Zones:

1. Manage the reserve as a premier destination park for Porirua, for short term visitors undertaking informal and primarily passive (or limited active) recreation activities.

2. Maintain free foot access throughout the reserve

3. Improve planting adjacent to the state highway through new or infilled planting for shade and shelter from sun, wind and noise.  Maintain macrocarpas for heritage landscape values, monitoring them for tree health and replacing with specimen shade trees when tree health fails.  Replace pines with native shelter species over time.

4. Ensure that land management does not cause contamination of the waterway.

5. Consider service or facility provision by external providers as a potentially appropriate means of supporting or implementing the planned outcomes.  Proposals for long term or permanent exclusive uses are considered incompatible with the planned outcomes of the reserve [* limit this to zones A and C if cableway is consented*].  Proposals for commercial uses are incompatible with the planned outcomes of the garden and play space zones (Zones (A) and (C)).  Proposals for low impact commercial opportunities which are sympathetic to the expressed values for the reserve, and which protect the visual amenity of the reserve are potentially appropriate means of implementing the planned outcomes for the Lagoon Zone (B).

6.  Allow the storage, operation and maintenance of a model railway.

7.  Any significant changes to the reserve will require a development plan. Please note: The reserve land named Zone B (with cable) and Zone B (without cable) is subject to a lease/licence that was granted in 2010 for a water cableway visitor attraction on the proviso that a resource consent be obtained.  The consent is still pending, therefore the reserve management plan must allow for the possibility that the cableway may still proceed.  The provisions for these circumstances are outlined under Zone B (with cable).  Guidance has also been provided for the current and any future management if the lease/licence was to be relinquished.  This has been given under Zone B (without cable).

Garden Zone (A):

8.  Manage for passive public enjoyment.  Encourage socially-oriented recreation by providing a high amenity grassed open space, amenity garden planting and supporting facilities, suitable for social gatherings of a passive nature.  Encourage use of the open garden space for community events, and enable exclusive temporary uses that are compatible with these outcomes.

9.  Safeguard significant cultural and historic heritage values in the zone through cautious management of land disturbance and structures, and through the protective management of archaeological and heritage sites.

10.  Improve amenity and public enjoyment through additional ornamental planting for shade and shelter, and through the development of themed gardens or plant collections, while retaining open grassed space.  Discourage active recreation in this zone by design, in favour of the Play Space zone.

11. Prohibit dogs from the Zone.

12. Enable temporary exclusive uses (such as weddings) that comply with the provisions for Managed Activities.

13. The Butterfly Pathway will provide a place of celebration to remember children.

Lagoon Zone (B) [*cableway*]

14.  Manage to protect remaining open space values for informal passive or active play, and amenity enjoyment, and to safeguard the natural tidal lagoon values.

15.  Retain open water, open grassed spaces, and the promenade facility.

16.  Allow commercial recreation in accordance with the terms of the approved lease.  Any further development is considered incompatible with the values of the reserve.

17.  Allow for control of pedestrian access as part of event management.

18.  Review the appropriateness of policy 16 against the stated values of the reserve, on expiry of the Agreement.

19.  Encourage diverse multiple uses, active and passive informal recreation and public enjoyment and landscape appreciation, through the provision of informal exercise equipment, pathways, open spaces, and amenity planting for shelter and shade.  Allow children's cycling.

20.  Continue to prohibit swimming until such time as the water quality is suitable for contact recreation.  Continue to prohibit jetskis and adult cycling.

21.  Protect the natural aquatic values of the lagoon through careful management of potential contaminants such as litter and sediment.

OR Lagoon Zone (B) [*NO cableway*]

22.  Manage to protect open space values for informal passive or active play, and amenity enjoyment, and to safeguard the natural tidal lagoon values.

23.  Retain open water, open grassed spaces, and the promenade facility.

24.  Encourage diverse multiple uses, active and passive informal recreation and public enjoyment and landscape appreciation, through the provision of informal exercise equipment, pathways, open spaces, and amenity planting for shelter and shade.

25.  Enable informal non-contact water recreation and children's cycling.

26.  Continue to prohibit swimming until such time as the water quality is suitable for contact recreation.  Continue to prohibit jetskis or other noisy equipment, and adult cycling.

27. Protect the natural aquatic values of the lagoon through careful management of potential contaminants such as litter and sediment.

28.  Consider as potentially appropriate the development of a café or other low impact commercial opportunities which are sympathetic to the values of the reserve.

29. Allow dogs on a leash.

Play Space Zone (C):

30.  Encourage casual active children's play and family-oriented recreation by continuing to provide a high amenity landscape.  Retain open grassed spaces, a duck pond, amenity plantings, a destination play space, and toilet amenities.

31.  Emphasise amenity planting of hardy native species that can tolerate children's play, including shade tree planting on lawn perimeters, while retaining open grassed areas and lawns.

32.  Improve the amenity and functioning of the duckpond, improving water quality as funding opportunities arise.

33.  Continue to operate a reserve maintenance building in this zone.

34. Prohibit dogs from the Zone.

35. Maintain and enhance the children's Splash Pad area.

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