Park plan to change

Whitireia Park will be under a new management plan by this time next year.

Wellington Regional Council, which oversees the park, wants to hear from the community as it develops the plan, which will cover conservation, heritage, cultural, land use and recreation values.

A park board, which will have three members of the regional council and three appointees from Ngati Toa, will instigate the plan next October.

Porirua/Tawa regional councillor Barbara Donaldson said it was yet another significant step in the iconic park’s history.

‘‘We really want to engage with all the user groups and the community about what this plan should look like.

‘‘We’ve been operating under an old plan for some time, but we need more in terms of doing up tracks, planting and the many other things it takes to run it,’’ Donaldson said.

‘‘It’s an outstanding landscape, a wild and adventurous place that many people care about, so it’s very important everyone has their say.’’

She said there would also be discussions with Titahi Golf Club – which borders Whitireia Park – over its expansion plans.

Consultation with the community will take until December, a draft plan will be released by July, and the final management plan published next October.