HMNZS Steadfast draft landscape plan

A public notification in 2020 inviting comment on a proposal to sell the ex-naval buildings in the park to TS Godley (Sea Cadets) with a ground lease led to a request from the community for a plan for the whole reserve, before deciding on the future of the buildings.

In response to this request we have worked with representatives from Cass Bay Residents’ Association, the Reserves Management Committee, TS Godley, and Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke to prepare a draft landscape plan for your feedback.

The draft plan is in two parts (main section and lower section of the park), and includes suggested priorities and actions for park development, access, and use.

The draft landscape plan responds to feedback about

• how the natural environment of the site can be best developed and managed
• management of the heritage landscape and features
• the need for better public access
• community use of the buildings
• longstanding use of part of the park as an eco-sourced plant nursery
• car parking provision
• establishing walking links and circuits

Draft landscape plan section A

Draft landscape plan section B

Current use and care of the ex-naval buildings

TS Godley has used the ex-naval buildings at HMNZS Steadfast for over 50 years for training and weekend camps. However, they have never had formal tenure with either the Council or previous central government owners. Meanwhile, a range of community groups have also used the building for community meetings and as a civil defence emergency base.

With some help from the Council, TS Godley have generally managed and maintained the buildings, but their condition has slowly deteriorated and they need upgrading. TS Godley have offered to undertake repairs at their cost if they can secure long-term tenure to justify investment of their own funds and enable applications for community funding.

To date, TS Godley and community representatives (Cass Bay Residents Association) have worked together to develop a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for shared use of the buildings to be attached to a possible lease to TS Godley.

We’ll be on site at HMNZS Steadfast between 3pm and 5pm on Tuesday 20 April.

Join us from the west (main) entrance off Governors Bay Road in Cass Bay.

• Consultation on the Draft HMNZS Steadfast Landscape Plan is open until Monday 10 May.
• Staff will consider all feedback and any changes will be incorporated in the final plan for approval.
• A staff report requesting approval of the final plan will go to the Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula Community Board in mid-2021.  
• The report will also include a suggested process to consider options for a community nursery in the park as shown on the plan.
• A separate staff report will be put to the Community Board with recommendations regarding tenure of the buildings 

The Cass Bay Residents’ Association have indicated they would like to have a Maori name for the park, and that it should be formally gazetted as a reserve.

We will develop an implementation plan following the approval of the landscape plan. This document will set out what development can occur within existing budgets, and which projects may require funding requests through the Long Term Plan and Annual Plan processes.

We are looking at the following indicative stages of implementation once the community board has adopted the plan, confirmed the building use agreement, and subject to funding and resource availability: