Reserve encroachments are where residents or property owners (or past property owners) have developed their land into the adjoining reserve land or the Wellington Town Belt land.
They vary in size and impact – from small, easily removed items like washing lines and toys– to driveways, and in more serious cases, parts of houses or landscaping. Vehicle parking and access across Town Belt and reserve lands are included.
Reserve encroachments are different from road encroachments, where private property (like fences, walls, plants, or driveways) extends onto road reserve – land legally set aside for roads, footpaths, or utilities.
Reserve encroachments breach both the Town Belt and Reserves Acts:
Negative impacts of reserve encroachments include:
- reducing the public use and enjoyment of open space
- compromising ecological values
- creating problems with run-off, land subsidence, proliferation of weeds and the dumping of garden waste.
They can also become an issue when owners want to sell their property.
Reserve encroachment policy
The Wellington Town Belt and reserves are recognised as unique and very valuable open spaces in Wellington and require protection against encroachment.
The Wellington City Council approved the encroachment policy in the Management Plans for the Suburban Reserves (2015), Wellington Town Belt (2018), the Outer Green Belt (2019). The policy states:
- encroachments are a prohibited activity
- the Council will resolve the existing encroachments with a view to regaining lost land
- the Council will protect the Town Belt and reserves from new encroachments.
The Council will not dispose of reserve or town belt land to resolve reserve encroachments.
Contact us
If you have any questions about Town Belt and reserve encroachments, email mark.lindsay@wcc.govt.nz.