Information Requested:

Dear Councillors and GWRC Staff,

We are seeking clarification on the current status of the proposed removal of the initial 350ha from active farming within Belmont Regional Park.

Preserve Belmont Farm Park met with David Boone and four other GWRC staff members on 20th April. At that meeting, we went through the proposed 350ha retirement area in detail, and each staff member was provided with information and a map outlining our concerns and suggestions.

At our meeting, David Boone also agreed that signs would be put up around the park to inform the wider community about the master planning process. Stakeholders represent only a small group of people. In contrast, the majority of park users are members of the wider community, who should also be informed and engaged in the future of the park.

How will the wider community be made aware of the drop-in meeting on 6 June without proper signage around the park and surrounding areas? Not everyone is on Facebook or follows GWRC online channels. If GWRC genuinely wants community involvement in the master planning process, there needs to be clear and visible notification within the park itself so regular park users are properly informed.

We are concerned that fencing is now being removed within the proposed 350ha retirement area. Our understanding was that this process had been put on hold until the master planning process had been completed.

Can you please clarify:

• What stage GWRC is currently at regarding the proposed retirement of the first 350ha.
• Have signs been made to put up around the entrances of the park? (These can be made with corflute and are very affordable).
• Whether the removal of fencing is part of an approved process, as we understood this work had also been placed on hold.

We are also struggling to understand why GWRC would remove fences that are still in reasonable condition, particularly between areas such as Stoney Knob and Siberia, or Lewins. Removing these fences would create larger paddocks; at the same time, GWRC has indicated it wants to reduce stock numbers and stocking rates within the park.

Given the significance of these changes to the future management of the park, we would appreciate clear communication around what decisions have been made.