Speak up for the spaces that speak to you

QLDC’s Blue Green Network Plan is open for feedback 

With stunning lakes, rivers, and world-class landscapes, our district isn’t just defined by nature, it’s shaped by it. But those green spaces and blue waterways aren’t just scenic features. They’re part of our identity, and central to how we plan for a resilient, connected future. 

That’s why QLDC is developing a Blue Green Network Plan, a district-wide strategy to protect and enhance the parks, trails, and waterways that link our communities and support our environment. And now, we’re inviting you to help shape it. 
Across Aotearoa, Blue Green Networks are gaining momentum as a smarter way to design towns and cities. They bring together blue elements (rivers, streams, wetlands, stormwater corridors) and green elements (parks, planting, ecological corridors) into a connected system that delivers big benefits, think flood protection, cooler urban areas, thriving biodiversity, and better public spaces. 

Rather than treating these spaces as standalone amenities, this approach recognises them as essential infrastructure.

Blue Green Networks help: 

• Reduce flood risk by giving stormwater space to flow and soak naturally
• Support biodiversity through linked habitats and ecological restoration
• Improve liveability by creating attractive, accessible public spaces
• Boost climate resilience by cooling urban areas and adapting to changing rainfall patterns 

Locally, the draft plan maps key blue, green, and community features across the district and highlights where new links are needed. It’s about future-proofing our neighbourhoods, protecting what we have, identifying gaps, and guiding smart investment in open space and social infrastructure. 

But we need your voice to complete the picture. Whether it’s a reserve you walk through daily, a stream you want protected, a trail you love, or something missing from your neighbourhood, this is your backyard, so branch out and be heard. 

Explore the draft plan, check out local maps, and share your feedback here.