FAQs

Recreational reserves are areas of land set aside specifically for public enjoyment and leisure activities. 

These reserves can include parks, sports fields, beaches, and picnic spots where people can engage in activities like walking, playing sports, and relaxing in nature. 

The main goal of a recreational reserve is to provide open, accessible spaces for communities to use for fun and relaxation while preserving the natural environment.

There are 28 council-administered recreational reserves in Buller. Within the Buller district, the Department of Conservation manages a range of scenic reserves. These are beyond Council's control. You can find the location of Council’s reserves using our interactive online map.

Council has identified all land in the district that is gazetted as a reserve and that Council is responsible for managing. Many of these reserves do not have a name that is published in the New Zealand Gazette Notice, so Council staff have tried to include road names as a reference point for these unnamed reserves. 

There will be an opportunity to comment on the names of the reserves during the Reserve Management Plan’s development process.

The Reserve Management Plan guides how public reserves are cared for and used.

A Reserve Management Plan ensures that these spaces are managed in a way that balances community enjoyment, environmental protection, and long-term sustainability. It also ensures that reserve use, development, management and protection are consistent with its classifications. 

All recreational reserves under the control of or vested in an administering body (in this case, the Buller District Council) must be covered by an approved management plan, under s41 of the Reserves Act 1977.

Therefore, Council is required to prepare and review the Reserve Management Plan for reserves that it manages or controls under the Reserves Act 1977. This Act also outlines the process for reviewing these plans.

The Reserve Management Plan may formalise existing activities, ensuring they align with the reserve's goals. Some activities might require permits or adjustments to reduce environmental impact. 

The plan will involve community input, allowing ongoing activities to continue with potential modifications. The Reserve Management Plan may also guide infrastructure improvements to support these activities.

Reserve Management Plans guide how public reserves are cared for and used. It does not include a detailed development plan for each reserve. Once the Reserve Management Plan has been adopted, a detailed action plan will be developed for each reserve.  

These actions will be included and budgeted for in our Long-Term Plan to implement the ideas and improvements within Council’s means strategically.