Thank you to everyone who participated in the preliminary engagement last October. The survey results and a summary of the main points are now available in the documents section on this page.

We are now inviting public submissions on a revised trails proposal which has been refined in the light of the feedback.

Trails Wellington and Korimako Track Builders are proposing new mountain biking and walking trails in the Wellington Outer Green Belt above the suburb of Crofton Downs. The proposed trails would be on the eastern side of Te Wharangi Ridge, linking up to the Skyline Track that runs along the ridgetop.

The proposal is for four new tracks, as shown in the map below and in the ‘visuals’ in the documents section on this page::

• Tracks 1 and 2: grade 5/6 descending bike-priority trails suitable for expert and extreme trail riders
• Track 3: a shared dual direction walking/biking trail, suitable for easy walking and grade 2 biking
• Track 4: grade 4 descending bike-priority trail suitable for advanced trail riders.

An existing informal tramping track close to track 4 will become walking-only.

See more maps and illustrations in the documents section on this page.

We need to consider the needs of all trail users in the nearby suburbs and wider community, how the proposed trails might provide a fun recreational opportunity while balancing the impact on the environment, and the needs of other users of the area. Note that completion of Tracks 1, 2 and 3 would depend on the land shown on the map as ‘future reserve’ coming into Council ownership, the timing for this is currently unknown.

As the new trails proposal sits outside the two relevant Council plans (the Outer Green Belt Management Plan and Open Space Access Plan),it will need to be considered by the Council’s Koata Hātepe | Regulatory Processes Committee for a decision, after the public consultation.

The next steps are:

• Seek approval in principle of a recommended trail plan from the Council’s Koata Hātepe | Regulatory Processes Committee. This step would include an opportunity for people to make oral submissions.
• If approved, carry out the detailed track design and environmental impact assessment. If the trails are feasible and meet the assessment criteria, apply for necessary resource consent.
• Approved and consented trails would be gradually built over time depending on available resources and the community’s needs.