Kawarau Riverside Reserves Management Plan

Share Kawarau Riverside Reserves Management Plan on Facebook Share Kawarau Riverside Reserves Management Plan on Twitter Share Kawarau Riverside Reserves Management Plan on Linkedin Email Kawarau Riverside Reserves Management Plan link

Thanks to everyone who took the time to share ideas for how they'd like to use and enjoy the Riverside Road Reserves in Frankton now and in the future. Feedback to inform the Riverside Road Reserves Management Plan closed on the 25 March 2024.


Next steps

All community feedback has been considered by the Parks team and used to shape a draft Reserve Management Plan for the Kawarau Riverside Reserves. This draft was approved by Full Council on 9 October 2025 and will be shared with the community for formal public submissions in early 2026.


Background

The Parks team are developing a draft Reserve Management Plan (RMP) for eight public land parcels located alongside the Kawarau River in Frankton called the Kawarau Riverside Reserves.

This area is popular with locals and visitors walking and biking the Twin Rivers Trail, part of the Queenstown Trail ‘Great Ride’ network, which connects the reserves while hugging one of New Zealand’s most iconic and picturesque rivers.

It's important to hear from all different groups and people across our community on what you love about these reserves, what you want to see made available on these sites now and in the future, and what you want protected or maintained.

As Frankton grows, the way the people want to use reserves and open space may change so we'd encourage the community to get involved in the process and let us know how we can best meet the current and future needs of residents and visitors.

We gathered early insights from the community in February-March 2024 which has informed the development of a draft RMP which aims to support a shared vision for how these reserves can be enjoyed by all.

>> View the feedback gathered from early engagement by clicking on the 'share your ideas on a map' digital tool below.


What is a Reserve Management Plan?

A Reserve Management Plan sets out how Council intends to provide for and ensure the use, enjoyment, maintenance, protection, and preservation of a reserve. It details all the rules and regulations to act as a guide for Council officers in making both day-to-day and long-term decisions about how reserves and open spaces under its control are to be used, managed, or developed.


How to have your say

The formal submission period will be for two months in early 2026. This is a chance for the community to tell us what we got right and what you'd like to change in the draft RMP. All submissions will then be considered by the Parks team to form the final RMP.


Got a question?

If you have a question, please submit it on the tool below and we'll get it answered as soon as possible. All questions and answers will be published for everyone to see.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to share ideas for how they'd like to use and enjoy the Riverside Road Reserves in Frankton now and in the future. Feedback to inform the Riverside Road Reserves Management Plan closed on the 25 March 2024.


Next steps

All community feedback has been considered by the Parks team and used to shape a draft Reserve Management Plan for the Kawarau Riverside Reserves. This draft was approved by Full Council on 9 October 2025 and will be shared with the community for formal public submissions in early 2026.


Background

The Parks team are developing a draft Reserve Management Plan (RMP) for eight public land parcels located alongside the Kawarau River in Frankton called the Kawarau Riverside Reserves.

This area is popular with locals and visitors walking and biking the Twin Rivers Trail, part of the Queenstown Trail ‘Great Ride’ network, which connects the reserves while hugging one of New Zealand’s most iconic and picturesque rivers.

It's important to hear from all different groups and people across our community on what you love about these reserves, what you want to see made available on these sites now and in the future, and what you want protected or maintained.

As Frankton grows, the way the people want to use reserves and open space may change so we'd encourage the community to get involved in the process and let us know how we can best meet the current and future needs of residents and visitors.

We gathered early insights from the community in February-March 2024 which has informed the development of a draft RMP which aims to support a shared vision for how these reserves can be enjoyed by all.

>> View the feedback gathered from early engagement by clicking on the 'share your ideas on a map' digital tool below.


What is a Reserve Management Plan?

A Reserve Management Plan sets out how Council intends to provide for and ensure the use, enjoyment, maintenance, protection, and preservation of a reserve. It details all the rules and regulations to act as a guide for Council officers in making both day-to-day and long-term decisions about how reserves and open spaces under its control are to be used, managed, or developed.


How to have your say

The formal submission period will be for two months in early 2026. This is a chance for the community to tell us what we got right and what you'd like to change in the draft RMP. All submissions will then be considered by the Parks team to form the final RMP.


Got a question?

If you have a question, please submit it on the tool below and we'll get it answered as soon as possible. All questions and answers will be published for everyone to see.

Q&A

Do you have a question about the Kawarau Riverside Reserves Management Plan?  Ask it here and we'll get it answered as soon as possible. 

All questions and answers will be published here for everyone to see.

loader image
Forgot password?
Didn't receive confirmation?
Register Now
Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
  • Share Have you made sure that your selection of trees that you will plant are appropriate to home owners as well as your own limited concept of appropriate? An example of that is, that if you are planting trees on the Northern boundaries of home owners, select trees that grow to a maximum of 15 meters high so that solar panels will not be deprived of sunlight during the mons of low sun angle in the sky. on Facebook Share Have you made sure that your selection of trees that you will plant are appropriate to home owners as well as your own limited concept of appropriate? An example of that is, that if you are planting trees on the Northern boundaries of home owners, select trees that grow to a maximum of 15 meters high so that solar panels will not be deprived of sunlight during the mons of low sun angle in the sky. on Twitter Share Have you made sure that your selection of trees that you will plant are appropriate to home owners as well as your own limited concept of appropriate? An example of that is, that if you are planting trees on the Northern boundaries of home owners, select trees that grow to a maximum of 15 meters high so that solar panels will not be deprived of sunlight during the mons of low sun angle in the sky. on Linkedin Email Have you made sure that your selection of trees that you will plant are appropriate to home owners as well as your own limited concept of appropriate? An example of that is, that if you are planting trees on the Northern boundaries of home owners, select trees that grow to a maximum of 15 meters high so that solar panels will not be deprived of sunlight during the mons of low sun angle in the sky. link

    Have you made sure that your selection of trees that you will plant are appropriate to home owners as well as your own limited concept of appropriate? An example of that is, that if you are planting trees on the Northern boundaries of home owners, select trees that grow to a maximum of 15 meters high so that solar panels will not be deprived of sunlight during the mons of low sun angle in the sky.

    Loz asked over 1 year ago

    Hi Loz, thanks for your query. 

    A Reserve Management Plan will set out how Council intends to provide for and ensure the use, enjoyment, maintenance, protection and preservation of these reserves. Any new planting within the reserves will follow QLDC’s Tree Policy 2024 to plant suitable species in appropriate places. 

  • Share I just read an article in the Herald about 5 restaurants closing. Instead of blaming Covid and overseas tourists, I blame your council. There’s something that Queenstown council needs to get right. I am a member of a motorhome caravan club with over 100,000 members. Most have a lot of spending power and delight in visiting restaurants and cafes in different parts of NZ. Some towns are very user friendly for motorhomers and provide good spaces to park or overnight staying. Queenstown has a reputation among the motorhoming community of not being that friendly towards our community and we like many avoid going there. So our dollar is not spent there. Maybe Queenstown Council has to rethink their policy towards this ever growing community of us over 65s. Many towns are friendly and reap the benefits. Regards Don on Facebook Share I just read an article in the Herald about 5 restaurants closing. Instead of blaming Covid and overseas tourists, I blame your council. There’s something that Queenstown council needs to get right. I am a member of a motorhome caravan club with over 100,000 members. Most have a lot of spending power and delight in visiting restaurants and cafes in different parts of NZ. Some towns are very user friendly for motorhomers and provide good spaces to park or overnight staying. Queenstown has a reputation among the motorhoming community of not being that friendly towards our community and we like many avoid going there. So our dollar is not spent there. Maybe Queenstown Council has to rethink their policy towards this ever growing community of us over 65s. Many towns are friendly and reap the benefits. Regards Don on Twitter Share I just read an article in the Herald about 5 restaurants closing. Instead of blaming Covid and overseas tourists, I blame your council. There’s something that Queenstown council needs to get right. I am a member of a motorhome caravan club with over 100,000 members. Most have a lot of spending power and delight in visiting restaurants and cafes in different parts of NZ. Some towns are very user friendly for motorhomers and provide good spaces to park or overnight staying. Queenstown has a reputation among the motorhoming community of not being that friendly towards our community and we like many avoid going there. So our dollar is not spent there. Maybe Queenstown Council has to rethink their policy towards this ever growing community of us over 65s. Many towns are friendly and reap the benefits. Regards Don on Linkedin Email I just read an article in the Herald about 5 restaurants closing. Instead of blaming Covid and overseas tourists, I blame your council. There’s something that Queenstown council needs to get right. I am a member of a motorhome caravan club with over 100,000 members. Most have a lot of spending power and delight in visiting restaurants and cafes in different parts of NZ. Some towns are very user friendly for motorhomers and provide good spaces to park or overnight staying. Queenstown has a reputation among the motorhoming community of not being that friendly towards our community and we like many avoid going there. So our dollar is not spent there. Maybe Queenstown Council has to rethink their policy towards this ever growing community of us over 65s. Many towns are friendly and reap the benefits. Regards Don link

    I just read an article in the Herald about 5 restaurants closing. Instead of blaming Covid and overseas tourists, I blame your council. There’s something that Queenstown council needs to get right. I am a member of a motorhome caravan club with over 100,000 members. Most have a lot of spending power and delight in visiting restaurants and cafes in different parts of NZ. Some towns are very user friendly for motorhomers and provide good spaces to park or overnight staying. Queenstown has a reputation among the motorhoming community of not being that friendly towards our community and we like many avoid going there. So our dollar is not spent there. Maybe Queenstown Council has to rethink their policy towards this ever growing community of us over 65s. Many towns are friendly and reap the benefits. Regards Don

    Don Judkins asked over 1 year ago

    Hi Don, thanks for your query.

    In regard to the draft RMP consultation, the Riverside Road Reserves are recreation reserves and will be retained as open space for the community to continue to use and enjoy. 

    To address your comments on camping in the district, Queenstown Lakes has always been an extremely popular destination for campers, both domestic and international. Our visitors camp at a variety of different sites, ranging from fully serviced holiday parks to Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites. The CamperMate App provides a directory of all camp sites in the district, including dedicated responsible camping sites.

    For parking, there are 33 parks reserved for Camper Vans in the Boundary Street Car Park, close to Queenstown CBD. 

    For further information about Camping in the Queenstown Lakes please visit https://www.qldc.govt.nz/responsible-camping.

  • Share Is there any need for a development on this? Why can’t we keep some green and places for whānau to have picnics near the Kawarau river and enough space for the children to run around and still be supervised. The only suggestion I would have other then to keep it green, is creating a playground around the needs of children disabilities especially disabilities that are physical and whilst there are many playgrounds, not many are accessible for children with disabilities on Facebook Share Is there any need for a development on this? Why can’t we keep some green and places for whānau to have picnics near the Kawarau river and enough space for the children to run around and still be supervised. The only suggestion I would have other then to keep it green, is creating a playground around the needs of children disabilities especially disabilities that are physical and whilst there are many playgrounds, not many are accessible for children with disabilities on Twitter Share Is there any need for a development on this? Why can’t we keep some green and places for whānau to have picnics near the Kawarau river and enough space for the children to run around and still be supervised. The only suggestion I would have other then to keep it green, is creating a playground around the needs of children disabilities especially disabilities that are physical and whilst there are many playgrounds, not many are accessible for children with disabilities on Linkedin Email Is there any need for a development on this? Why can’t we keep some green and places for whānau to have picnics near the Kawarau river and enough space for the children to run around and still be supervised. The only suggestion I would have other then to keep it green, is creating a playground around the needs of children disabilities especially disabilities that are physical and whilst there are many playgrounds, not many are accessible for children with disabilities link

    Is there any need for a development on this? Why can’t we keep some green and places for whānau to have picnics near the Kawarau river and enough space for the children to run around and still be supervised. The only suggestion I would have other then to keep it green, is creating a playground around the needs of children disabilities especially disabilities that are physical and whilst there are many playgrounds, not many are accessible for children with disabilities

    Jess Oc asked over 1 year ago

    Kia ora Jess, thanks for your query and feedback. 

    Just wanted to let you know that development is not the intent when creating a Reserve Management Plan (RMP) for an area. RMPs exist to enable the land to be enjoyed, managed and used in a way that best meets the needs of the community and those that visit. So, if people think an area is perfect the way it is, we’d encourage them to tell us. 

    This early insights engagement helps QLDC understand the community’s preferences and desired mix of use and protection for these reserves, as well as setting in place policy to guide the day-to-day management of the area. 

Page last updated: 04 Dec 2025, 02:56 PM