Have your say on Otaraua Park draft development plan

Part of Otaraua Park.

A draft development plan for Otaraua Park, which is one of Kāpiti's largest recreation reserves, is going out for public consultation, council has decided.

Otaraua Park is a 59.28ha districtwide recreation reserve, located on the southern bank of the Waikanae River, owned by Kāpiti Coast District Council.

The park was bought by council in 2012 as a districtwide park for the purposes of sport and recreation.

A management plan was adopted in 2014 with the vision stating the park was for public use and enjoyment including sport and recreation, an open space buffer between the urban areas, a parkland environment with high amenity and ecological values.

"The purpose of a development plan is to outline how the park can be developed in the long-term based on community consultation," parks and recreation manager Alison Law said in a report.

"A long-term development plan is needed to ensure future options are not compromised by early development."

She said the draft development plan was primarily based on a brief provided by Visitor Solutions.

"The brief is based on advice from iwi, community and stakeholder feedback, their knowledge of sport and recreation trends, information gathered from the community facilities strategy, Otaraua Park Management Plan principles and advice from council officers."

Some of the highlights of the draft development plan include a nationally unique multi-purpose track for non motorised wheeled sports of all types and abilities, a destination play space, capacity for 12 sports fields and an exhibition field, mountain bike skills and activity area, BMX track, multi-purpose hub building as well as environmental initiatives such as a main wetland area and preservation of remnant kohekohe forest.

Development of the park was expected to be a mix of rates funded along with sponsorship and external funding.

Moreover the draft plan states: "Significant parts of the proposed plan are dependant on securing external funding in the future".

"Council staff consider the draft Otaraua Development Plan responds to community and key stakeholders needs and enables future development in a way that will create a sports and recreation park for the Kāpiti community as well as attracting visitors and events from outside the district," Ms Law said.

The draft development plan will be open for consultation for one month from Monday.