Blue-Green Network Plan

From lake edges to wetlands, trails to local parks, the spaces we move through every day are all connected. And now we’ve got a clearer plan to make sure they stay that way as we grow.

In May, elected members approved the Blue Green Network Plan, a long-term strategic framework that brings together our waterways, open spaces and community places into one connected network.

At its simplest, the Blue Green Network brings together:

• blue - our lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands

• green - parks, reserves and natural areas

• community spaces - trails, playspaces and civic places

It maps how these all fit together, and how they should be protected, enhanced and grow alongside our towns and neighbourhoods.

The plan maps both current and future development areas across the district, including:

• Settlements: Arrowtown, Kingston, Glenorchy, Cardrona, Luggate, Hāwea, Makarora

• Priority Development Areas: Town Centre to Frankton Corridor, Five Mile Urban Corridor, Te Pūtahi Ladies Mile, Te Tapuae Southern Corridor, Southern Wānaka, and Wānaka Town Centre – Three Parks Corridor

Following community feedback on the draft plan during September - December 2025, Council adopted the final Blue Green Network Plan on 7 May 2026.

Benefits of the Blue Green Network place include:

• Enhance biodiversity and protect native habitats

• Improve water quality and support Te Mana o te Wai

• Build resilience to climate change and natural hazards

• Create more spaces for recreation, sport, and social connection

• Support mental and physical wellbeing

• Foster education and environmental stewardship

• Ensure accessibility and inclusivity for all

• Promote sustainable development

• Enhance the visitor experience and local pride

It’s about helping ensure development works with nature, not against it.

Our Blue Green Network Plan is built on five key principles:

• Mana o te Wai – Prioritising water as the foundation of healthy environments and communities

• Woven into the context – Tailoring solutions to each place while contributing to the wider network

• Coexistence of nature and people – Designing spaces that benefit both ecosystems and everyday life

• Connecting people and place – Strengthening access and belonging through integrated networks

• Fit for purpose and well serviced – Ensuring open spaces are well-located, well-designed, and multifunctional

A whole-of-landscape approach

This plan is guided by the Kāi Tahu philosophy of Ki Uta Ki Tai - from the mountains to the sea - recognising that everything is connected.

It was developed in partnership with Kāi Tahu and alongside other work like the Spatial Plan, Climate and Biodiversity Plan, and active travel planning - so everything can work together, not independently.

Public feedback gathered in 2025 helped strengthen the plan, with strong support for protecting waterways and biodiversity, improving connections between spaces and making sure new areas include parks and trails.

The Blue Green Network Plan is designed to evolve — as our communities grow, so too will the opportunities to shape and refine the network.