Brooklands Lagoon : a landscape study

Abstract

Brooklands Lagoon lies 15 kilometres north-east of Christchurch at the mouth of the Waimakariri River. The study area is bounded by Lower Styx Road to the west, Heyders Road and Spencer Park to the south, Pegasus Bay to the east and the Waimakariri River to the north. The central feature of the area is Brooklands Lagoon and associated landforms.

The Brooklands area consists of a number of coastal ecosystems combining to form a regionally important recreational and ecological resource. While remaining relatively unaltered considering its proximity to a large urban centre, the Brooklands area is increasingly subject to human use. Management of the resource is essential to minimise conflicts of use and must be based upon a thorough understanding of the landscape characteristics of the site and it's component parts. Therefore the study objectives are: 1. To identify the landscape qualities of the site and user demands upon the site. 2. To identify appropriate management objectives for the study area and the landscape units within it. 3. To identify those parts of the study area suitable for development as planned recreational areas.

Given these objectives, it was necessary to undertake a landscape study, with a written report and associated plans that: 1. Indicates the physical, ecological and visual characteristics of the study area. 2. Suggests management objectives for the component landscape zones. 3. Identifies areas suitable for development as recreational open space and offers a landscape proposal for such an area.