Plan for Wellington adventure zip line moves one step forward

Wellington City Council has given approval for a new zip line adventure attraction to open at a former landfill site.

Wellington Zipline Adventures (WZA) asked to lease 900 hectares of Southern Landfill land, near the suburb of Brooklyn, with assurances that thrill-seekers would not see the dump from the new attraction.

Wellington City councillors unanimously voted to grant the occupancy agreement with WZA now needing resource consent to proceed with the operation.

The meeting of the Council's city strategy committee earlier this month also agreed that any proceeds from leasing the land, will be used for improving the Outer Green Belt.

The project would see four zip lines - between 178 metres and 575 metres in length - zigzag down the valley, with wooden take-off and landing decks at each end.

The proposed activity is to be located up in the hills well clear of any landfill operation areas.

As the attraction would be weather-dependent, it was estimated the zipline would be operating about 210 days each year.

Council officers will now enter into negotiations with WZA about the terms and conditions for the lease and licence.

WZA Director Mark O'Connor said the decision was a monumental day for the company and a "big hurdle" had been cleared.

He advised “it's a big step for us today. It's very positive. We now have assurance of the use of the land if we need it."

Councillor Peter Gilberd, who holds the natural environment portfolio, said the business case was well supported. Some of the positives included economic benefits, bringing adventure tourism to the city and promoting a new way of recreation close to the city.

Negatives included visual and ecological impacts but reports had been commissioned to develop mitigation processes.

Image: An artist's impression of the Wellington Zipline Adventures deck.

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