Parks Landscape Plan
The Parks Landscape Plan sets out potential future projects to help us improve our public spaces, to protect te taiao (the environment), and to make our parks safer and more accessible. We created this plan by working with key stakeholders and community.
What is the Parks Landscape Plan?
Our plan covers Bothamley Park, Cannons Creek Park and Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve.
The Parks Landscape Plan provides a long-term vision for three key parks in eastern Porirua: Bothamley Park (The Old Road), Cannons Creek Park and Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve (The Duck Pond).
As the population grows in eastern Porirua, it is important that our public parks and reserves meet the needs of current and future generations. The plan, vision and design outcomes have been developed in collaboration with Te Rā Nui project partners along with key stakeholders and our community.
This plan is a living document that will help guide future projects for the three parks, enabling Te Rā Nui - Eastern Porirua Development project partners Kāinga Ora, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Porirua City Council to identify project steps, funding, and delivery. As opportunities identified in the plan arise, there will be further engagement with our community.
How our plan got started
The Parks Landscape Plan began after you told us what was most important to you.
In 2019, the community told us the health of the environment was important to them, but it needed improving along with better access to parks and open spaces. In late 2021, we asked the community how they use Bothamley Park, Cannons Creek Lakes Reserve and Cannons Creek Park, and how we can make them better now and in the future. The community told us that the environment, access and pathways, safety, and park activities are important. In addition, that cultural identity and practices should be reflected through the parks.
From there, we worked with stakeholders and landscape architects to finalise the draft plan, and Ngāti Toa Rangatira provided a cultural review of the final Parks Landscape Plan.
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts. Your input helped inform the design and consent application for both the wetland (external link) in Cannons Creek Park, which started in 2025, and the wastewater pipes upgrade through Bothamley Park (external link), which is now completed.
Opportunities to improve the parks
Read the key themes that came from our community engagement.
Mauri tū and te taiao, te arawai – Our environment and waterways:
Improve freshwater and land-based habitats and strengthen people’s connection to nature.
He ara – Connections
Improve access to, and pathway connections within the parks
Ngā mahi whakakaha – Facilities and activities
Improve seating, shelter and places for passive and active recreation
Whakapapa and Mātauranga – Identity and education
Connecting people to place
Marutau – Safety
Spaces are safe places when they are loved and well-used by the community.
Download a copy of our plan: