Council seeks the community’s feedback on Buller's parks and reserves
Buller District Council has launched a survey to gather community input on the future management of council-administered parks and recreational reserves.
Recreational reserves are areas of land set aside specifically for public enjoyment and leisure activities. These reserves can include parks, sports fields, beaches, and picnic spots where people can engage in activities like walking, playing sports, and relaxing in nature.
Council administers 28 recreational reserves within the Buller District. Four out of the 28 reserves are local purpose campgrounds which are managed by council. Six of the 28 reserves have a hall located on them, forming part of the reserve.
Group Manager Community Services Krissy Trigg says: “The community’s feedback will help council staff to create a draft Reserve Management Plan (RMP) that balances community enjoyment, environmental protection, and long-term sustainability. It also ensures that reserve use, development, management and protection is consistent with its intent.”
The reserve management survey asks questions about the importance for the community, usage ideas, desired future community activities, what events the community would like to see hosted, what facilities are used most, how to increase the reserves’ ecological value, upgrades and improvements to amenities, and how to advance the access to these places. The community is also invited to suggest how these public reserves will be used and cared for in the future.
Ms Trigg outlines: “The insights we gather are crucial to preparing a draft Reserve Management Plan that reflects the community's values and aspirations and establishes a strong foundation for the sustainable strategic future management of Buller's green spaces.”
Council has published an interactive online map on its community engagement hub, ‘Let’s talk Buller’, that includes information about each reserve’s amenities, current use, management and additional information. People are invited to go online and learn more about their reserves.
Ms Trigg highlights: “We know that our parks and reserves play an important role for our communities. Whether you are a regular visitor or an occasional user of our parks and reserves, we encourage you to complete the survey. It takes 10–15 minutes, and all questions are optional.”
Feedback will be reviewed in late 2024. Once this evaluation is completed, council staff will draft the RMP considering the reserve’s purpose, legal requirements, budget and feasibility constraints.
Council will consult on this draft RMP in 2025. This will allow the community to review the draft plan and provide their thoughts through submissions.
Council will consider all submissions and listen to people who wish to speak in support of their submission during the hearings.
If required, Council will make any alterations to the draft plan and adopt the final version in 2025.
Within the Buller district, the Department of Conservation manages a range of scenic reserves. These are beyond council's control and not included.
How to complete the survey
The survey and the online map are live on council’s engagement platform (letstalk.bullerdc.govt.nz) from Monday 21 October – 18 November 2024, 4:30 pm.
Paper survey forms and overview maps will be available to pick up (and can be dropped off) at council’s offices in Westport and Reefton and the Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library in Westport.
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact:
Community Engagement Team
Buller District Council
Media.Enquiries@bdc.govt.nz