Draft letter to Greater Wellington (Wellington Regional Council)
Hon Margaret Shields
Chair
Greater Wellington
PO Box 11646
Wellington
Dear Hon Margaret Shields
Request for a hang glider landing area in the Mangaroa Valley
The Wellington Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club has been flying from Mount Climie above the Mangaroa Valley since the late 1970s. The site is used regularly for flying, and has been used in the past for national competitions. Pilots land on the flats in the vicinity of Flux Road.
Recently the Upper Hutt City Council has changed the zoning of the area, and a developer has bought properties that we land on. Eventually the developer intends to convert the valley floor into “lifestyle” blocks. When this development occurs landing options for hang gliders, in particular, will disappear.
Club members have investigated a number of alternative sites for a landing zone, and have identified a shallow saddle and spur above Colletts Road near a fire pond. The land is Regional Council forestry block and has near-mature pine trees on it.
The Wellington Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club would like to request that when the pine trees are harvested that an area be permanently set aside as a hang glider landing area. The landing zone required would need to be approximately 100 metres by 30 metres. An area free of trees would also be required to allow for landing approaches.
The Council’s approval in principle is requested at this time for this proposal.
Yours sincerely
Kris Ericksen
President
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