Open spaces plan sparks councillor backlash

The area that will be subject to the Alamar Crescent Master Plan. The new Kaipara District Council year got off to a rocky start last week, when staff were given a wrap over the knuckles by councillors who felt they had been left out of a major Mangawhai open spaces planning initiative. Staff were briefing councillors on resetting the timeline on the project, which is aimed at guiding how Mangawhai’s parks, reserves and waterfront spaces develop over the next 10 to 20 years. But both Mayor Jonathan Larsen and former mayor Craig Jepson said they were unaware of the project except for a brief me...