PRESERVE BELMONT (FARM) PARK
WE, the TAX PAYERS, own this asset!
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A public working farm that we can take our kids to see will be lost forever.
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62 World War ll bunkers spread throughout the farm/park.
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The results of years of hard work breaking in this land with saw and axe jointly by Maori and Pakeha will be lost.
Local riders enjoying the park.
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Sweetacres Walkway (Off Hill Road) this walk loops up with the junction off Old Coach Road.
About us
Welcome
We are a group of ordinary Kiwis who actively visit and enjoy this amazing place called Belmont Regional Park. This farm/park offers so much, tucked away on the hill tops between Porirua and Lower Hutt. The farm is 1000 hectares of the 3292 hectares of Belmont Regional Park; only a small part of the entire park.
Belmont Regional Park is unique in that it offers both farming and native bush, keeping conservation and farming in one place. The farm part of the park has strong features that can be seen as a background to all the surrounding suburbs of the Wellington region. This could be about to change if the Greater Wellington Regional Council initiates its plan to remove or reduce farming from Belmont Regional Park.
The farm part of the park has amazing geological landforms and 62 historic World War ll munition bunkers. The central ridge can be seen from around the entire Wellington region. Historical and cultural associations are evident throughout the park. Also, the farm has incredible panoramic views of Wellington harbour, Porirua harbour and Transmission Gully.
Cattle and Sheep are a good tool to manage rank grass (long grass), it keeps all the tracks safe for those horse riding, walking and bike riding. Many horses and riders, local and out of the area, use the farm tracks and hills on a regular basis and rabbit holes will be hazardous for horses and those walking should the grass and pests get out of control.
Belmont Regional Park already offers 2292 hectares of native, regenerating bush and areas where farming is retired. Belmont Regional Park has great walking and mountain bike tracks for us all to enjoy. Let's continue to preserve the conservation, together with farming at the park.
We have now submitted this petition to the GWRC. We will update this website when we have more information.
Thank you.
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information/privacyThose who filled out the form and/or submit via email to this petition the information provided, it has been presented to The Greater Wellington Regional Council (only) your name will not be published on this website or any social media or platform. Submission details will not be used or passed on to anyone other than for this petition.
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The farm has its own airstrip which is good to have for emergency landing if ever needed.
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Gorse and rank grass (over grown dry grass) is a fire hazard. The country's main gas line runs through the farm. How will this be protected?
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This image shows the Kilmister block, that already is retired from farming, and how quickly gorse has grown in 2 1/2 years.
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Riding is a great outdoor activity for children of all ages.
A shared walking/biking track from Hill Road carpark.
LET'S SAVE OUR FARM, WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Important
Key information
what is happening to our farm/park?
The Greater Wellington Regional Council manages Belmont Regional Park on your behalf. After receiving 390 submissions in 2020, the GWRC decided there were enough submissions to go on and adapt a new network plan to stop farming in all the 8 parks they manage on your behalf. Wellington City has a population of 212,000 Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua have a combined population of 434,900 and Kapiti has a population of 65,800 people. Was there full public engagement about this new network plan with only 390 submissions?The Greater Wellington Regional Council's network plan is to plant the majority of the farm part of the park in native trees. Where is the money coming from to plant these native trees? Through a fund that was established in 2020 by borrowing against free allocation of carbon credits. With the price of these credits at the moment rising, the GWRC Climate Committee are recommending the loan be extended to 70 percent of their value. How safe is this investment?
The farm is situated in a high country setting that will be challenging to young trees, how they will survive the winds, hares/rabbits, weeds and gorse?
Fire Hazard: Cattle and Sheep are a good tool to manage fire risk. Gorse and rank grass (over grown long dry grass) is a threat and fire hazard, especially when the park is completely surrounded by suburbs and houses.
Gorse will take over, we will then no longer be able to walk freely through an open field to see each of the historical World War ll bunkers that are situated throughout the farm. Gorse has been labelled a great weed to protect young natives. If you look at the surrounding Naenae, Wainuiomata and Eastern hills you can mainly see only gorse with small pockets of native after many decades of "protection" from Gorse. This noxious plant will dominate the park/farm for decades to come. Gorse leaches nitrogen into the soil that you don't want running into your water ways. Once a thick layer of gorse gets established it makes the underlying soil more acidic so it limits the type of plants you can plant and their ability to grow. It's only when gorse ages and its canopy becomes more open that beneath the canopy the germination of native shrub seedlings can grow. How will the GWRC keep the nitrogen from gorse leaching into the water ways and then into the Hutt River?
The Lady Di block (Lower Hutt side) and Waitangirua (Porirua side) have recently been retired from farming and in a short time have visual pockets of gorse. If Belmont Regional Park stops farming the 1,000 hectares we would no longer be able to take our kids/family to visit and experience a working public farm, to see close-up the young lambs and calves in the open paddocks.
Belmont farm produces an average of 210,000kg carcass weight of beef and lamb per year. This amount of food feeds a substantial number of people. GWRC is taking part in reducing food production by closing all farming in the 8 parks they manage on your behalf. 33,000 hectares of public land in Wellington is managed by GWRC on your behalf. We are seeing farms sold all around New Zealand to overseas buyers and turned into pine tree plantations, which is reducing our farming and food production. Yet we all own this public farm and GWRC want to stop farming it? New Zealand beef and lamb are among the most carbon efficient in the world. Over the last 20 years, New Zealand sheep meat has not added any additional warming. Absolute greenhouse emissions from New Zealand sheep and beef farming have decreased by 30 per cent since 1990. New research has confirmed the carbon footprint of New Zealand beef and lamb is amongst the lowest in the world (look up www.beeflambnz.com). We are the world's most carbon efficient food producers. Why would GWRC think doing this will help with climate change and minimising emissions? Carbon credits on trees don't last forever and only in the first 16 years is it profitable; so then what happens?When Transmission Gully was built 47 hectares was purchased by the Crown through NZTA at the market rate. The Crown through NZTA payed for a new woolshed, house, cattle yards, fencing and tracks as mitigation for what was a road alignment, and for not being able to cross the road during the construction period of building Transmission Gully. These assets were paid with tax payers dollars. GWRC want to remove all of the fencing, that we, as tax payers, contributed a substantial amount of money towards in the last seven years. Whilst driving through Transmission Gully the farm/park is an attractive and visible feature. A substantial amount of money has been spent by you, the tax payer; approximately 6.5 million dollars in the construction of lane ways, fencing, a new house and a world class woolshed. These assets will be lost, what a waste of time, money and hard work. Not to mention the substantial amount of lost revenue this 1,000 Hectare farm generates. Will this lost income be recouped with increased rates paid by you, the rate payers of the Wellington Region?
GWRC want to extend the hours of entry to the farm, from before dawn till after dusk, which will only, potentially, attract crime and vandalism. Why would they do that?
GWRC want to open the narrow road through the main farm for the public to drive through, which would only endanger those walking, on biking and horse riding. The road would need extensive earth works to make it safe. Where will the money come from to undertake these works? From you, the rate payer?
Belmont Regional Park has areas outside the working farm such as the Old Coach Road block which was felled (pine trees) 10 or so years ago and has not been touched since. This block has being taken over by gorse and other scrub. Shouldn't the GWRC be developing this block, i.e. planting in natives before the cost becomes prohibitive? Wouldn't GWRC be better with reforestation to these areas by planting native trees instead of closing more of our farm land? No farms no food!
Fire Hazard: Cattle and Sheep are a good tool to manage fire risk. Gorse and rank grass (over grown long dry grass) is a threat and fire hazard, especially when the park is completely surrounded by suburbs and houses.
Gorse will take over, we will then no longer be able to walk freely through an open field to see each of the historical World War ll bunkers that are situated throughout the farm. Gorse has been labelled a great weed to protect young natives. If you look at the surrounding Naenae, Wainuiomata and Eastern hills you can mainly see only gorse with small pockets of native after many decades of "protection" from Gorse. This noxious plant will dominate the park/farm for decades to come. Gorse leaches nitrogen into the soil that you don't want running into your water ways. Once a thick layer of gorse gets established it makes the underlying soil more acidic so it limits the type of plants you can plant and their ability to grow. It's only when gorse ages and its canopy becomes more open that beneath the canopy the germination of native shrub seedlings can grow. How will the GWRC keep the nitrogen from gorse leaching into the water ways and then into the Hutt River?
The Lady Di block (Lower Hutt side) and Waitangirua (Porirua side) have recently been retired from farming and in a short time have visual pockets of gorse. If Belmont Regional Park stops farming the 1,000 hectares we would no longer be able to take our kids/family to visit and experience a working public farm, to see close-up the young lambs and calves in the open paddocks.
Belmont farm produces an average of 210,000kg carcass weight of beef and lamb per year. This amount of food feeds a substantial number of people. GWRC is taking part in reducing food production by closing all farming in the 8 parks they manage on your behalf. 33,000 hectares of public land in Wellington is managed by GWRC on your behalf. We are seeing farms sold all around New Zealand to overseas buyers and turned into pine tree plantations, which is reducing our farming and food production. Yet we all own this public farm and GWRC want to stop farming it? New Zealand beef and lamb are among the most carbon efficient in the world. Over the last 20 years, New Zealand sheep meat has not added any additional warming. Absolute greenhouse emissions from New Zealand sheep and beef farming have decreased by 30 per cent since 1990. New research has confirmed the carbon footprint of New Zealand beef and lamb is amongst the lowest in the world (look up www.beeflambnz.com). We are the world's most carbon efficient food producers. Why would GWRC think doing this will help with climate change and minimising emissions? Carbon credits on trees don't last forever and only in the first 16 years is it profitable; so then what happens?When Transmission Gully was built 47 hectares was purchased by the Crown through NZTA at the market rate. The Crown through NZTA payed for a new woolshed, house, cattle yards, fencing and tracks as mitigation for what was a road alignment, and for not being able to cross the road during the construction period of building Transmission Gully. These assets were paid with tax payers dollars. GWRC want to remove all of the fencing, that we, as tax payers, contributed a substantial amount of money towards in the last seven years. Whilst driving through Transmission Gully the farm/park is an attractive and visible feature. A substantial amount of money has been spent by you, the tax payer; approximately 6.5 million dollars in the construction of lane ways, fencing, a new house and a world class woolshed. These assets will be lost, what a waste of time, money and hard work. Not to mention the substantial amount of lost revenue this 1,000 Hectare farm generates. Will this lost income be recouped with increased rates paid by you, the rate payers of the Wellington Region?
GWRC want to extend the hours of entry to the farm, from before dawn till after dusk, which will only, potentially, attract crime and vandalism. Why would they do that?
GWRC want to open the narrow road through the main farm for the public to drive through, which would only endanger those walking, on biking and horse riding. The road would need extensive earth works to make it safe. Where will the money come from to undertake these works? From you, the rate payer?
Belmont Regional Park has areas outside the working farm such as the Old Coach Road block which was felled (pine trees) 10 or so years ago and has not been touched since. This block has being taken over by gorse and other scrub. Shouldn't the GWRC be developing this block, i.e. planting in natives before the cost becomes prohibitive? Wouldn't GWRC be better with reforestation to these areas by planting native trees instead of closing more of our farm land? No farms no food!
This image shows substantially established gorse outside the working farm boundary. Why doesn't GWRC invest in planting natives in these areas before further retirement of our farm land.
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This image shows where GWRC have already retired farming on Porirua part of the park (Waitangirua). Transmission Gully road runs through this park of the park.
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The bunker above is used for Police training.
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How will GWRC keep our bunkers from graffiti and vandalism?
Examples of the Old Coach Road area. You can see part of the farm in the distance. The pine trees were removed many years ago and GWRC have not developed the block since.
The image is the track up to Belmont Trig from Stratton Street, it has long been retired from farming. Another area that GWRC could further develop with natives to improve the area before retiring more farm land. Plant in areas that need reforestation.
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Details
Key points
Did you know: WE HAVE A FULLY FUNTIONING FARM IN YOUR CAPITAL CITY. WHERE RECREATION, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION AND FARMING WORK TOGETHER.
DID YOU KNOW: That you, the tax payer, own this asset! A treasure with spectacular views, taking in the entire Wellington region for everyone to enjoy.
DID YOU KNOW: in those hills/paddocks we have 62 world war ii bunkers which could be lost for future generations.
DID YOU KNOW: This will change from green pastures & open spaces with complementing surrounding bush, to hills/paddocks full with gorse & a huge potential fire hazard.
DID YOU KNOW: This farm subsidises your rates. If this income is lost then will you, the ratepayer, be subsidising this loss?
10 points of entrance into Belmont regional park
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map of the PARK
01: petone entrance
02: Maungaraki entrance
03: stratton st entrance
04: normandale entrance
05: belmont entrance
06: kelson entrance
07: HAYWOODS ENTRANCE
08: Pāuatahanui ENTRANCE
09: EAST PORIRUA entrance
10: TAKAPU ROAD entrance
11: HOROKIWI ENTRANCE
This is a image of the farmer and his working dogs. Such amazing views! Dogs are not allowed in the 1000 hectare farm, but the surrounding 2292 hectares of the park you are able to take your dogs on many bush walks.paragraph to your block, write your own text and edit me.
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Modern new farm house and sheds.
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Munitions Laboratory Museum and Toilets for public use.
What was once one of the main farm houses, it is now used as a second house for the farm.
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Click on the images below to enlarge, see the great views of the entire Wellington region.
Looking out to Kelson.
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The top of Transmission Gully.
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Views of Lower Hutt and Eastern hills.
From the farm woolshed you get great views of Plimmerton.
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Great views of Porirua.
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Looking out to Mana.
Views out to Pāuatahanui.
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Looking out to Wellington Harbour.