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Hearings Committee
20 November 2024
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Draft Signal Hill Recreation Reserve Management Plan 2024 -
Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement
Department: Parks and Recreation
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 This
report presents a summary of the submissions received during community
engagement on the draft Signal Hill Reserve Management Plan 2024 (the Draft
Plan). The Draft Plan is an update of the 2003 Signal Hill Recreation Reserve
Management Plan. The continuous review of reserve management plans is a
statutory requirement under the Reserves Act 1977.
2 There
were 192 submissions made during the community engagement on the Draft Plan.
The public engagement process, as prescribed by section 41(6) of the Reserves
Act 1977 and Section 83 of the Local Government Act 2002, was followed. Of the
submissions, 34 supported the draft Plan, nine did not state either their
support or opposition, and 147 did not support the Draft Plan.
3 31
submitters wish to speak to their submission at the Hearing. Of those that wish
to be heard at the hearing, 20 do not support the Draft Plan, 11 supported the
Draft Plan, and one did not state their support or opposition to the Draft
Plan.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee:
a) Considers the feedback
from the public engagement of the Draft Signal Hill Recreation Reserve
Management Plan.
b) Makes recommendation
to DCC staff based on the information provided by submitters.
BACKGROUND
4 The
Reserve Act 1977 requires management plans for all Council administered
reserves. It is also a requirement under the Reserves Act 1977 to consult with
the public when a reserve management plan is being created or reviewed.
5 The
Signal Hill Recreation Reserve is a key recreation reserve in Dunedin with high
landscape and biodiversity values. It is a popular reserve for mountain biking,
walking, trail running, orienteering and dog walking. It is used by some
residents as a commuter route to the Logan Park area.
6 The
2003 Signal Hill Recreation Reserve Management Plan (2003 Plan) was adopted
December 2003. The Act requires an administering authority keep reserve
management plans under continuous review. The 2003 Plan has not had a
comprehensive review since its adoption.
7 A
review of the 2003 Plan commenced in November 2020. The community engagement period for DCC’s intention
to review the 2003 Plan ran from 7 November 2020 until 8 December
2020. We received 38 responses from the community during this period.
Community engagement included a public notice in a newspaper and DCC’s
social media platforms advertising the four-week engagement period on the 2003
Plan.
8 The
preparation of the Draft Plan was disrupted due to COVID-19. Additional
workshops were held with submitters and stakeholders in 2022 to discuss
progress of the draft Plan and to ensure the initial feedback provided in 2020
was still relevant.
9 The
Draft Plan was prepared with full consideration of the feedback received both
from the statutory submission period and feedback received through engagement
workshops and meetings. Input was also provided from the working party
that was comprised of the following organisations and representatives:
· Mountain
Bike Otago
· Dunedin
Orienteering
· Logan
Park High School
· Sport
Otago.
10 The draft
Plan differs to the 2003 Plan in following ways.
· It
formally recognises the importance of Signal Hill and the surrounding area to
mana whenua.
· It
is based on specific actions which are proposed to support the management and
development of the Reserve. The proposed actions include a Reserve Master
Plan, a Habitat Restoration Plan, an Interpretation/Storytelling Plan, and a
Fire Plan.
· It
acknowledges the landscape and biodiversity values of the reserve. There
will be a focus on habitat restoration and the re-establishment of native
vegetation within the reserve, including the managed removal of noxious pest species.
The draft Plan does not support any further planting of exotic tree species
within the reserve.
11 Currently
development within the reserve has occurred without any formal direction or
planning.
12 The draft
Plan has a range of proposed projects and matters to consider that will
recognise the values of the reserve while encouraging both active and passive
recreation alongside habitat restoration. An implementation plan will be
developed once the final draft has been prepared for adoption.
13 Staff
presented the Draft Plan to the Strategic, Planning and Environment Committee
on 13 February 2024. A Statement of Proposal (SOP), as required
under the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA) for public consultation, was also
presented to the committee. The committee approved the Draft Plan and the SOP
for public engagement.
DISCUSSION
14 A 2-month
period of consultation is required in section 41, 6(a) of the Reserves Act
1977.
15 Public
engagement on the Draft Plan was carried out between 13 May 2024 and 15 July
2024.
16 Methods of engagement
included information posted to the Dunedin City Council’s website, a
public notice in both the Otago Daily Times and the Star and a media release,
signage and posters displayed at reserve and in proximity to the reserve with a
QR code. A number of drop-in sessions, information evenings and weekend pop-ups
were run over this time a several different venues, these included the city
library, Edgar Centre, Unipol, Civic Centre, Logan Park High School and within
the reserve itself.
17 The
submission form, in Attachment C asked whether submitters supported the changes
to the Draft Plan and to comment on their reason for either approving or
disapproving of the Plan. There was more space provided for ‘other
comments’ as well.
Submissions
18 One hundred
ninety-two submissions were received during the public engagement period.
19 The
submissions received were summarised and analysed to identify themes. The
majority of submissions were made up of the pro forma submission organised by
Mountain Bike Otago (MBO), these submissions identified the following concerns:
· They
did not support setting a limit on the number of mountain bike tracks within
the reserve.
· They
did not support the removal of pine trees as part of management of pest plants
and protection of view shafts within the reserve due to the shelter they
provide to the track network.
· They
wanted MBO to have a greater representation on the Signal Hill Recreation
Reserve User Group.
· They
did support the designation of tracks just for mountain biking.
· They
did support road safety improvements.
· They
also wanted to see the provision of additional tracks to the network and had a
wish list of what they would like to see provided for mountain biking within
the reserve.
20 Outside of
this proforma submission form the prominent themes were:
· Opposing
restrictions on the number of mountain bike tracks within the reserve (39)
· Support
management of pest species (33)
· Support
track development and maintenance (33)
· Support
making Signal Hill Recreation Reserve a destination (29)
· Support
ensuring connections to the reserve exists (29)
· Support
designation of tracks (29)
· Support
biodiversity improvements (28)
· Support
increasing public access and making it more available to all users (25)
· Proportionate
representation on the Signal Hill Recreation Reserve User Group (24)
· Do
not support mountain biking within the reserve (23)
21 Please
refer to the feedback report attached in Attachment B.
22 77% of
submissions do not support the Draft Plan.
· This
was dominated by mountain bikers who were mainly concerned with restricting the
number of mountain bike tracks, removal of pine trees and wanting a better
representation of MBO on any Signal Hill Reserve User Group.
· There
were submissions from those who supported the majority of the Draft Plan but
had concerns around the management of Burns Reserve, there was a mixed opinion
around how the consistent management of this reserve might look.
· Some
wanted more detail and clarity around the history of the reserve and more
information around ecological enhancement of the reserve.
· There
was also concern about lack of representation on the Signal Hill Reserve User
Group from residents within Opoho and on Signal Hill Road, the Friends of the
Burns Scenic Reserve, tourism operators and other organisations.
23 18% of
submissions did support the draft.
· Those
submissions in support of the Draft Plan identify the importance of supporting
and improving the biodiversity of the reserve.
· Many
supported ensuring the reserve is welcoming, accessible and inclusive to all
user groups.
· There
was support for providing clarity around which groups can use which tracks and
improving connections to and within the reserve.
· There
was support for management of pest species.
· There
was support for improved management of invasive plant species and vegetation
that obstruct views at the Memorial Lookout.
· There
was support for the provision of toilet and drinking water facilities.
· There
was support for improvements to the road network servicing the reserve making
access safe.
· There
was support for improved track development and maintenance.
· There
was support for the management and restriction on where further mountain bike
tracks are located.
· There
was support for lower gradient and grade tracks for beginners.
24 We received
feedback recognising the health benefits that mountain biking and being active
within the reserve offers both physically and mentally, promoting the reserve
in being vape and smoke free, and minimising the risk of conflict between
various users, i.e., high speed downhill bike riders versus children, and dogs.
25 We also
received informal feedback during our public engagement this included ideas
around improving the marketing and signage about the reserve, many people we
spoke to were unaware of the reserve and the facilities on offer, there was
also a perception that the reserve was only for mountain bikers and other users
were not welcome.
OPTIONS
26 There are
no options to this report as the purpose is to present a summary of
submissions.
NEXT STEPS
27 Next steps
are for the Hearings Committee to consider consultation results and make
recommendations to the Council regarding the proposed Draft Signal Hill
Recreation Reserve Management Plan 2021.
Signatories
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Author:
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Elizabeth Schonwald - Parks and Recreation Planner
John Brenkley - Planning and Partnerships Manager
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Authoriser:
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Heath Ellis - Acting Group Manager Parks and Recreation
Jeanette Wikaira - General Manager Arts, Culture and
Recreation
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Attachments
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Title
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Page
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⇩a
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Draft Signal Hill
Management Plan
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17
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⇩b
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Public Engagement
Feedback Report
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46
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⇩c
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Feedback Form
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52
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SUMMARY OF CONSIDERATIONS
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Fit with purpose of Local Government
This decision enables democratic local
decision making and action by, and on behalf of communities.
This decision promotes the social,
economic, environmental and cultural well-being of communities in the present
and for the future.
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Fit with strategic framework
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Contributes
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Detracts
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Not applicable
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Social Wellbeing Strategy
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✔
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☐
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☐
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Economic Development Strategy
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✔
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☐
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☐
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Environment Strategy
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✔
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☐
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☐
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Arts and Culture Strategy
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☐
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☐
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✔
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3 Waters Strategy
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☐
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☐
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✔
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Future Development Strategy
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✔
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☐
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☐
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Integrated Transport Strategy
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✔
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☐
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☐
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Parks and Recreation Strategy
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✔
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☐
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☐
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Other strategic projects/policies/plans
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✔
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☐
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☐
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The city’s parks and reserves contribute to the
wellbeing of the community. Reserve management plans provide
opportunities to work with other departments to consider linkages and
connections in terms of movement and association. Reserve management
plans are also an opportunity to evaluate biodiversity and ecological values
and support improvements to the environment. Reserves are destinations and
the activities promoted within them can be of economic benefit to the city.
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Māori Impact Statement
Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki and Te Rūnanga
o Ōtākou through Aukaha Ltd have contributed to the draft Signal
Hill Recreation Reserve Management Plan. Mana Whenua have provided no
feedback during the submission process.
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Sustainability
Sustainability is to be considered through the process of
this project and will inform the management and operation of the reserve.
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Zero carbon
Council’s
Zero Carbon Policy is to be considered through the process of this project
and will inform the management and operation of the reserve.
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LTP/Annual Plan / Financial Strategy /Infrastructure
Strategy
This summary report for consideration has no impacts for
these documents.
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Financial considerations
There are no financial implications to this summary
report.
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Significance
The draft Plan is considered low in terms of the
Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy.
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Engagement – external
The Reserves Act 1977 requires DCC to consult with the
public when a reserve management plan is being created or reviewed.
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Engagement - internal
Parks and Recreation Services staff have worked with other
departments (Legal, Transport, 3 Waters, Community Development and Events)
with the drafting of this reserve management plan.
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Risks: Legal / Health and Safety etc.
There are no identified risks to this summary report for
consideration.
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Conflict of Interest
There is no known conflict of interest.
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Community Boards
Signal Hill Recreation Reserve is a key amenity for the
entire city and all residents including those in Community Board areas will
be interested in the development of a reserve management plan for this
facility. Signal Hill Recreation Reserve sits just outside the West
Harbour Community Board area, but the Community Board was advised about the
draft reserve management plan.
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