Parks Project

It’s time to improve our taiao, our environment. In 2019, the community told us the health of the environment was important to them, but it needed improving along with better access to parks and open spaces.

Our next steps in this project

Thank you to everyone that shared their thoughts. Your input will help create a draft Parks Landscape Plan for the three parks, outlining how we can make the most out of each space, to best meet the needs of the community now and in the future. It also helped inform the design and consent application for the wastewater pipes upgrade through Bothamley Park, which is now underway.

 

Between September and December 2021, we asked the community how you use Bothamley Park, Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve and Cannons Creek Park, and how we can make them better for the future.

 

 

Background

The community told us that the environment, access and pathways, safety, and park activities are important. In addition, that cultural identity and practices should be reflected through the parks.

 

Opportunities to improve the parks

The community identified five key themes to focus on:

1. Environment and waterways
2. Access and pathways
3. Facilities and activities
4. Safety
5. Identity and education 

 

 

What this might look like

 

Environment and waterways

Repair the parks environment and strengthen the community's connection to nature

Image of Bothamley Park’swastewater pipes, 2021

 

To help improve the health of both Kenepuru Stream and Te Awarua-o-Poriura we are upgrading over 3 km wastewater pipes which run through Bothamley Park. The wastewater pipes upgrade is one of many water infrastructure projects we are investigating to help improve our waterways. 

 

Another way of supporting our plants, wildlife and waterways within each park could be through planting trees that support our taiao and removing plants that can be harmful.  This includes removing some of the mature pine trees that are more prone to falling. In turn, this will open up views into and throughout the park and reduce shadows onto neighbouring properties.   

 

Access and pathways

Enhancing access to and through parks

Example of pathway

 

The parks have the potential to provide great connections between the neighbourhoods that surround them; making it easier to get to work, school, the shops or friends’ houses. We are looking at ways to enhance how the community could use the parks as a way of getting around their neighbourhood. This could include better signage, improving path quality, make existing entrances/exits more visible and accessible, as well as creating new entrances and paths. 

 

Safety

Creating opportunities to make each park safer for the community

Example of lighting through park

 

Having safer parks means that they are more likely to be well-used and enjoyable. Park safety could be improved by enhancing visibility through and views into each park, widening paths and installing signage to help find your way around the parks.  We can look at ways to minimise the number of motorbikes travelling through each park by creating better park entrances and exits.

 

We have also heard from community feedback that sections of the path network are unsafe or unusable at times due to rainfall and overflows from the wastewater system. This could be improved through investigating better water solutions as well upgrading the wastewater pipes that run through Bothamley Park. 

 

Facilities and activities

Providing opportunities to enhance how the community use each park

 

Example of learning area

 

To enhance each park, spaces for facilities and activities could be created. This could include providing new play and fitness equipment that can be used by all ages, creating shelters, picnic areas, learning spaces, public toilets or places to host events. It is important that each park provides places for the community to sit, gather, play, learn and enjoy their surroundings.

 

Identity and education

Create spaces that reflect the community’s past, present and future

 

Example of area to tell stories about the history of the park

 

Porirua is rich in history and culture. The community has also told us that it is important and should be reflected in the parks. Opportunities and spaces to share information could include supporting cultural practices such as mahinga kai or blackberry harvest in some areas. It could also include using signage and storyboards to share educational information that encourages and fosters kaitiakitanga of the environment.  

Timeline

August - September 2021 - seek community feedback on Bothamley Park, Cannons Creek Park and Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve.

September - October 2021 - use community feedback to create draft Parks Landscape Plan.

November 2021 - share community feedback.

Mid 2023 - finalise draft Parks Landscape Plan for resource consent application.

2023 - 2026 - continued community engagement to finalise draft Parks Landscape Plan.

Parks projects frequently asked questions

To help answer some questions you may have about the opportunity to improve Bothamley Park, Cannons Creek Park and Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve, view the FAQs.

• What is a Parks Landscape Plan?

  Creating a Parks Landscape Plan helps set the direction on how we can enhance the accessibility, safety and function of Bothamley Park, Cannons Creek Park and Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve. The Parks Landscape Plan will outline how we can make the most out of each space to best meet the needs of the community now and into the future. The plan will also feed into the wider Te Rā Nui, Eastern Porirua Development work programme to improve public spaces alongside housing in eastern Porirua.

• Why do we need a Parks Landscape Plan?

  Eastern Porirua has a great diversity of open spaces and recreation facilities, ranging from sports grounds, recreational reserves, scenic reserves, playgrounds and local neighbourhood parks. However, we know that Bothamley Park, Cannons Creek Park and Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve need some improvements to ensure they are safe and fit for purpose.

  In 2019, the community told us that:

  • The three parks are underutilised
  • There is low visibility and poor water management
  • There is a lack of accessibility and safety
  • There is significant water pollution within Bothamley Park due to the old wastewater pipes
  • Cannons Creek Park has poor drainage at the bottom of the park
  • Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve has issues around public safety, vandalism and anti-social behaviour

   

  Creating a Parks Landscape Plan will provide a guide on how we could enhance Bothamley Park, Cannons Creek Park and Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve to meet the needs of the community now and into the future.

• When will you come back to the community for feedback?

  Absolutely!  We will collate all feedback received in 2021 and share a Parks Landscape Plan with more specific examples of how we could enhance Bothamley Park, Cannons Creek Park and Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve.

  Any work outlined in the Parks Landscape Plan will need to be staged and further consultation will be carried out before we start making any significant changes to the parks.

• Will we get more community facilities?

  The Parks Landscape Plan sets the direction on how we can improve the parks, for example, if there is community support for more facilities, these will be incorporated into the plan.

• Who will deliver the Parks Landscape Plan?

  The plan will be delivered in partnership between the community, Te Rā Nui, Eastern Porirua Development, Porirua City Council and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. The work will be staged and there will be further consultation required before we start making significant changes to each park as outlined in the Parks Landscape Plan.