Have your say on the new Wise Street Neighbourhood Recreational Area
We’re designing a new passive recreational reserve on Lot 203, at the southern edge of the new development at 217-239 Wise Street, Wainuiomata.
As part of the approved resource consent for a new housing development and subdivision, Council will own this land as a recreation reserve or local-purpose reserve. It will function as a public green space and a stormwater detention basin and flood storage area for the surrounding neighbourhood.
A concept landscape plan has been prepared for Lot 203 including a fenced dog area, paths, planting and park furniture.
We’re inviting your feedback to help refine the final design before it is certified under the consent conditions.
What is already decided?
Lot 203 will be a public reserve owned and managed by Council.
The primary function of this area is to provide a place for residents’ leisure, play, exercise, and access to green space.
As a dual function, the reserve will also operate as a stormwater detention and flood storage basin, so ground levels and storage volumes can’t be changed.
The reserve will occasionally hold water after heavy rain – especially in larger storm events. This means that any fencing, structures or planting must allow flood flows and keep floodwater capacity.
Please note that permanent structures like playgrounds cannot be accommodated due to the dual reserve functioning as a flood storage basin and stormwater detention area.
The reserve design cannot significantly go beyond the scope within the resource consent, as additional consent is not intended to be sought by Council.
Draft design
The current draft (based on the consented concept) includes:
A central grassed basin that temporarily stores stormwater after heavy rain
A fenced dog exercise area with:
natural logs and rocks for dogs to explore
proprietary agility elements (hoops, weave poles and tunnel)
a drinking fountain with dog bowl and dogwaste bin
Loop paths around and through the reserve, suitable for walking and maintenance access
Low, water tolerant planting on the basin banks and specimen trees for shade
Bench seats in locations with good passive surveillance from surrounding homes
What we need feedback on
While some parts of the design are fixed, there are areas we’d love to hear from you on.
Dog exercise area: Should this reserve include a fenced dog exercise area, and if so, what should it be like?
Paths: How would you like paths to connect and move people through and around the reserve?
Seating and amenities: What seating and amenities would help make the reserve welcoming and safe?
Fencing and safety: What fencing style and height should be used, considering safety, privacy, and flood flows?
You can also tell us anything else that would help this reserve work well for you and your whānau.
How to have your say
Tell us your thoughts and ideas for Wise Street Neighbourhood and Recreational Area in the survey below by 8 April 2026.
Written submissions regarding this proposal should be sent to Hutt City Council, Private Bag 31912, Lower Hutt 5040 or sent by email to submission@huttcity.govt.nz
What’s next?
After consultation closes, we will review all feedback and summarise the key themes, then adjust the design where possible within the resource consent conditions. We’ll then finish the Reserves Landscape Plan (Recreation) for Lot 203, including an engineer’s sign-off on stormwater performance, and submit the final plan for approval under the resource consent.
The final design and construction timing will be shared on our website and with residents.
Questions?
If you have any questions or need this information in another format, please contact Parks Development Planner, Isaac Velasco, via email: Isaac.Velasco@huttycity.govt.nz
