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A document that runs to almost 400 pages and lists every local park, however small, in the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board area has gone before the public for consultation.
The first thing to note is that the Coast has a lot of reserves – more than 200 compared with less than half that in the Bays.
Some historic buildings, including Silverdale Hall and Stoney Homestead are included, as well as Whangaparaoa Library (but not Orewa, as it does not sit on reserve land). The plan does not include regional parks or those that belong to Auckland Transport or are used for stormwater.
The draft Local Parks Management Plan lists reserves alphabetically, making it easy to look up your favourite. Issues and potential changes are noted, for example a lifeguard tower is suggested as a possiblity for both Moana and Arundel Reserves in Orewa.
Big issues for local parks include freedom camping and climate change. However, although you can use the feedback opportunity to have your say about those issues, this plan is, first and foremost, limited to a description of each park and a note of what can and can’t happen there.
Hibiscus & Bays Local board member Julia Parfitt says it’s important that people look up their local park and see if they agree with the type of activities allowed there.
“You might want to talk about the need for a playground, or about use by a dominant club. That’s not to say that you can’t comment about freedom camping or bigger issues, but this plan is not about those regulations, which are being dealt with elsewhere. This is a high-level policy document rather than a detailed operational plan. It primarily focuses on providing a framework for determining what needs to be considered when managing, developing and enhancing our parks.”
Consultation opened on July 3 and is open until September 4. Look for the plan in local libraries and service centres and at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/have-your-say
The plan should be adopted by the end of this year.
