The Lake Ruataniwha Recreation Reserve Management Plan is being prepared in accordance with the Reserves Act 1977. It will include management and development direction for approximately 68ha of recreation reserve that extends around the lake from the boat launching area off Morrison Terrace to the designated freedom camping on Max Smith Drive (opposite the Pukaki Canal Road junction).
This will be the first reserve management plan prepared for the reserve and will have a strategic planning focus rather than an operational focus. The plan’s aim is to guide day-to-day management in a way that reflects the values of mana whenua and the community.
Council is encouraging the community and stakeholders to give feedback so that the plan reflects what they expect and want to experience at the reserve.
The plan will be an important document to guide decisions about how people use the reserve, which areas need protection, what aspirations the community have for the reserve and what improvements should be considered in the future.
Council will utilise the plan when approving events or granting leases to groups who want to utilise the reserve and to guide development and environmental restoration activities.
To date key stakeholders have told us that the reserve is Twizel’s jewel in the crown, that the lagoon area is highly valued for informal recreation and retaining shade and wind protection is very important. We have also heard support or received suggestions for:
- The area recently cleared of pines to be used for sport fields
- Better walking and biking connections through the reserve
- The need for a more organised approach to carparking (including boat trailer parking)
- Upgrading the playground and picnic areas
- Better access and connection to the lake edge
Next steps
Council will review the feedback and use it to prepare a draft reserve management plan. The draft plan will then be made available to the public to specifically comment on what’s in the plan. All responses will be considered before the plan is finalised and adopted.
This project is open for initial feedback until Sunday 10 April 2022.