News release
2 March 2007

East Harbour Park plan accommodates all recreational interests

Managed mountain biking, hunting and other recreational activities have been given a tick in Greater Wellington’s new management plan for East Harbour Regional Park.

Greater Wellington Landcare Committee Chair Cr Chris Laidlaw says the new management plan, recently approved by the Landcare Committee, is a win-win for Greater Wellington and the community.

“When the draft plan first went out for consultation, a lot of park users were concerned at the possibility of hunting and mountain biking being curtailed.”

Cr Laidlaw says that Greater Wellington listened to those concerns and has decided to permit managed hunting, mountain biking and a range of other recreational activities in the management plan.

“This is a park for all sectors of the community so we’ve made sure that with careful management, we can accommodate the activities of all potential users.”

The new plan allows for the following recreational activities:

- Deer hunting by ballot in a specific area over a restricted time period

- Pig hunting by permit in a specific area and restricted time period

- Mountain biking on designated tracks in the Northern Forest

- Dog walking in the Northern Forest but not in the Lakes Block

- Camping with no time restrictions in Gollans Valley (but no camping allowed in the Butterfly Creek Picnic area, which is more suitable for day users)

- Hang-gliding and paragliding

- Casual horse riding in the Lakes Block along designated tracks, with the ranger’s prior permission.

For copies of the East Harbour Regional Park Management Plan, please contact Greater Wellington Policy and Planning Advisor Victoria McGregor on 04 381 7753.

ENDS

Information on applying for a hunting permit

- To enter the ballot for a deer hunting permit, hunters can request an information pack (including a ballot entry form) by sending a cheque of $5 (non-refundable) to ‘East Harbour deer hunting ballot’, Greater Wellington, PO Box 40-847, Upper Hutt. Ballot entries must be received by 12 noon Friday 16 March 2007.

- For pig hunting permits, phone Joanne Clifford-Marsh at Greater Wellington’s Upper Hutt Depot on 04 526 4133.

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