Community views wanted on the phenomenally popular Hutt River

With more than one million visits each year, the Hutt Valley Trail is the region’s most visited “park,” offering opportunities for rest and recreation of all kinds for Hutt Valley residents and beyond.

Given its rising popularity, and the need to plan for more intensive use of the riverside in the future, Greater Wellington has worked with community representatives to produce the just-completed Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River Action Plan 2017, on which it now seeks public feedback.

“It’s an exciting plan that will guide the long-term enhancement of the whole riverside and make it an even more popular asset for the community,” says Greater Wellington councillor Prue Lamason.

“But we have to be careful to ensure we balance all the many interests involved so we can deliver benefits for all visitors.

“In particular we must respond to the community’s clear desire to improve the river’s environment and water quality, both of which have been included in the action plan based on earlier community feedback.

“We also need to factor in some really big developments, such as the RiverLink flood protection and city centre development scheme, which will transform Lower Hutt. The plan will accommodate the benefits that will come from RiverLink and provide the guidelines required to ensure a better experience for visitors along the full length of the river, a beautiful planted environment which supports wildlife and great opportunities for all sorts of recreational activity.

“Now is the time for the Hutt community, in particular, to have its say on one of the region’s most iconic spaces, and I urge people to get involved in making the Hutt an even better place in which to live,” says Prue.

The Action Plan, which was developed following extensive consultation with the Hutt Valley local authorities, stakeholders and the broader community, brings the previous 2001 strategy right up-to-date.

People can comment on the plan by:

• dropping into information sessions at Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club from 6.30pm on 19 February and Avalon Park Pavilion from 6.30pm on 22 February.
• emailing comments on a submission form to info@gw.govt.nz
• posting ideas to the Hutt River Environmental Strategy at Greater Wellington Regional Council, PO Box 11646, Manners St, Wellington 6142.

Deadline for submissions is Friday 9 March at 5:00pm. All feedback will be considered and the final document is scheduled for completion at the end of April.

“We are writing the next chapter in the river’s history. We want you to add your voice, too”, says Prue.

ENDS

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