Draft Town Belt Management Plan - Wellington City Council

4.3.9 Sector plans will identify specific landscape characteristics and values associated with each
area to be enhanced, maintained and/or protected.
4.3.10 Areas of exotic forest will be removed over time as trees fall or become hazardous.
Hazardous trees will be removed based on risk assessments.
4.3.11 Areas to be replanted in indigenous vegetation are identified in sector plans.
4.3.12 The values of existing trees and vegetation (including heritage trees and large trees
generally) will be identified and managed to retain the mature-tree framework within parts
of the Town Belt.
4.3.13 Planting new and replacement large tree species (both native and exotic) will be supported
where appropriate 9 in the Town Belt. A response to unplanned change will also be required
as a result of storms that will occur from time to time.
4.3.14 The speed of vegetation change, the size of the area undergoing change and the location of
the change will be managed to protect Town Belt landscape values as much as possible
during times of planned change such as major tree removal (as outlined in the sector plans).
4.3.15 The effects of vegetation removal, maintenance and new planting on the following values
will be considered on a project-by-project basis to guide management decisions:
32
a. enjoyment and interaction with nature and the outdoors
b. views of the Town Belt
c. views from the Town Belt
d. diversity of landscape aesthetic and pattern
e. the patchwork of native and exotic vegetation
f. retention of a mature-tree (and large-tree) framework
g. protecting heritage tree groupings as identified in sector plans
h. ecology at a site scale, Town Belt scale and citywide scale
i. land and soil health, and stability
j. supporting outdoor recreation opportunities
k. provision of shade and shelter
l. mitigation of effects of buildings on and around the Town Belt (eg screen them,
integrate them into landscape or reduce bulk and scale)
m. natural environment education.
Specific vegetation management issues will be identified in sector plans. Refer also to
section 5 dealing with ecology and biodiversity.
4.3.16 Structures, buildings and furniture no longer required shall be removed as soon as
practicable, and those that are unsafe or irreparable shall be removed also and replaced
only if consistent with the policies in this plan and the Leases Policy for Community and
Recreation Groups.
9 This assessment is at the discretion of the Council in its management of Town Belt reserves and reflects the need for the
Town Belt to provide for a large-tree framework in the city landscape.
Draft Town Belt Management Plan October 2012