Archer’s block decision due

Advocates for the creation of a large public reserve on the Weiti River are anxiously awaiting a decision from Auckland Council.

Hibiscus & Bays Local Board member John Watson made a presentation to Council’s Parks & Heritage Committee last December regarding the acquisition of the 24.5ha Archer’s Block as a public reserve. This acquisition was signalled as a priority in the Local Board Plan.

The Archer’s Block is on the southern side of 497 Whangaparaoa Road and is owned by Auckland Transport.

In his presentation, Mr Watson stressed that the block of land is the last piece of significant bush that the Council owns on the peninsula. It includes large strands of native bush including kauri, totara, kahikatea and puriri. It is a major bird habitat and has direct access to the water’s edge via a bullock track.

“Allowing this land to become a reserve would also help address the acute shortage of reserves on the Whangaparaoa peninsula,” Mr Watson says. “It’s a big advantage that a Council CCO already owns it.”

He says the response received from Council officers was “supportive”.

“They could see the shortage of bush in Whangaparaoa and the possibilities for recreation. They also noted that the land is very steep and unsuitable for building or development.”

Auckland Councillor Wayne Walker is deputy chair of the Parks & Heritage Committee and has been a strong advocate for turning the Archer’s Block into a public reserve.

At the meeting he pointed out that there is a real opportunity to provide a significant walking and cycling link along the Weiti River with the joining up of the Archer’s Block with other Council owned properties nearby.

A report from biodiversity officers is expected to come before Council this month.