Locals are being encouraged to have their say on a draft plan which will determine how local landmark Mount Iron is used, managed and preserved.

The draft Reserve Management Plan (RMP) for Mount Iron is now open for public submissions and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) community services general manager Kenneth Bailey said the council hoped to hear from a wide range of people from across the community.

“This plan has been guided by feedback from the Upper Clutha community and discussions with mana whenua and sets out how this valued landmark can be enjoyed, used, maintained, preserved and enhanced,” Kenneth said.

“The Parks team has worked alongside the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board to incorporate the wide range of feedback and develop the draft plan.

“It’s now time to hear if that’s supported by the wider community and reflects their recreational and ecological aspirations.”

Read more: Planning for Mt Iron: coffee carts, parking, mountain biking and more

The draft plan imagines a reserve maintained as an ‘undeveloped slice of the outdoors’ within a busy town. PHOTO: Wānaka App

The draft plan envisions a reserve which is maintained as an ‘undeveloped slice of the outdoors’ within a busy town, one which preserves and prioritises the ‘natural, open and informal recreation and scenic experience’.

It aims for the reserve to ‘unite residents and visitors, bringing the community together to protect its cultural, ecological and recreational values’.

The RMP is being created because last year QLDC purchased 100 hectares of land on Mt Iron and Little Mt Iron and more recently it took over the day-to-day management of another 50 hectares.

RMPs are used by QLDC to detail the objectives and policies for different public spaces and help with day-to-day and long-term decisions on how reserves and open spaces are used, managed, and developed.

QLDC parks manager Dave Winterburn encouraged people in the community who have questions about the draft plan to visit the Parks team at a community drop-in session on Mount Iron Track.

“All are welcome to come along and chat to the team and elected members at the community drop-in events to be held on the Mount Iron Track near Allenby Place Carpark on Wednesday 16 October between 4.00-6.00pm and Saturday 19 October between 10.00am-12.00pm,” Dave said.

“The Parks team will continue to engage closely with the community and interested parties to inform the planning of this public reserve and ensure this much-loved site is cared for and protected, now and into the future.”

View the draft plan and provide a submission by November 29 here.