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Information Requested:

How does GWRC intend to protect neighbouring communities if a major wildfire starts within Belmont Regional Park following large-scale grazing retirement and increased fuel accumulation?

This raises a serious public-interest concern:

Why was a significant land-use change strategy adopted in 2020 before detailed wildfire risk assessments and operational modelling were completed?

We ask:

Were councillors and members of the public fully informed before the 2020 Toitū Te Whenua Park Network plan was adopted that wildfire risk would later become one of the most significant limiting factors to restoration at Belmont Regional Park?

Has the public been informed how many days the park could close due to the fire risk once grazing is gone, and the park becomes a fire risk in the future?

This raises important questions:

How will these closures affect approximately one million annual park visits?

How will emergency access operate during high fire danger periods?

What evacuation planning exists for park users and neighbouring residents?

Were councillors and the public informed of these likely closure impacts before the original strategic direction was adopted?