Changes at the Top - a new farm hub opens at Belmont Regional Park

Changes at the Top -  a new farm hub opens at Belmont Regional Park

Greater Wellington Regional Council chair Fran Wilde says a new farm hub constructed at Belmont Regional Park will assure the viability of farming on the park into the future and provide a new point of interest for visitors.

The new facilities will be officially opened during a public ceremony on Saturday 31 January. They include a new woolshed and sheep and cattle yards that are capable of housing 3000 sheep and 200 head of cattle at a time. As part of the event, the public will be able to drive all the way up to the site, and have a good look around this brand new facility.

"Many people forget that Belmont Regional Park is also a very substantial working farm," says Ms Wilde. "This new farm hub means that despite the construction of the Transmission Gully motorway cutting off the existing facilities from the rest of the park, the farming operation will remain viable into the future. As an added bonus, we would like to see how the farm hub might offer a base for organised events outside shearing and other Landcorp farm operations."

The new farm hub was constructed following negotiations between GWRC and the NZ Transport Agency. It has been fully funded by NZTA as required by the Public Works Act.

"GWRC also received payment as a result of land sales at Battle Hill and Belmont Regional Parks. We are reinvesting a substantial portion of those funds back into Belmont Regional Park to advance our environmental and recreational goals for this area," says Ms Wilde.

"Through working with the local community we have agreed that the top priority recreational projects should be a new multi-use track improving access between Hill Road and Old Coach Road, landscaping around the historic Korokoro Dam, and a new easy grade downhill mountain bike track in the former pine plantation block. The regional community will be invited to comment on those ideas as part of our upcoming Long Term Plan consultation."

Open Day activities include a guided walk to a spot which overlooks the Transmission Gully Motorway route.  It is one of the few points along the route where the public will be able to safely view construction progress. The Cross Country Vehicle club will be offering 4WD trips while at 11am the Belmont Area Mountain biking association (BAMBA) will be guiding mountain bike trips around the park.

                To book for the guided walk or mountain biking phone 04 830 4041

The new Belmont Regional Park Farm Hub will be officially opened this Saturday, 31 January 2015, during a ceremony starting from 10am. Gates will be open from 8.30am.

MEDIA CONTACT:  021 914 266 or  comms@gw.govt.nz