Viewpoint – Projects on our agenda

The Ministry for Primary Industries has invited/opened consultation on measures to protect intertidal shore life. Fisheries New Zealand is reviewing management measures for recreational shellfish harvesting across the Auckland and Coromandel region.

This is welcome news for the region’s over-harvested shores. The consultation is open from May 6 to June 12, and two of the four proposed options include a full intertidal closure on shellfish collection across the region.

More information is available at www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations. Please fill out the consultation to ensure that the Hibiscus Coast voice is accurately represented. The driver for this consultation is closely linked to the temporary closure of marine life collection due to local overharvesting. 

Butler Stoney Park

The clumsily named “Metro Park West” is finally being developed by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board. This is set to be one of our biggest local parks and will cater for picnicking, events, performances, walking, and more. Delayed by three years due to other projects, we are finally seeing the park’s construction come to fruition. The park holds historical significance for the Butler Stoney family and farming history of the area, and it was agreed by then Rodney District Council Mayor John Law that the park would be named Butler Stoney Park as part of the land acquisition agreement. This must be honoured in our new development plan for the park. The park currently has a dual name status with Kawarau (gifted by Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Manuhiri) and Metro Park West as the given names. I will be proposing to remedy the English name change at the earliest opportunity. 

Ōrewa Beach Reserve Future Management Plan

It is important to provide an update on this project because of the high level of community interest and the potential impact of future changes.

The Local Board has engaged an external organisation to assess the feasibility of a range of coastal management options, including rock revetment walls and dune restoration.

The board also needs to consider how the beach reserve is used and ensure it remains suitable for surf club activities, swimmers, walkers and visitors, while balancing the need to protect the reserve for future generations.

At the April business meeting, I put forward a motion to prevent Auckland Transport from installing parallel parking along the reserve so angled parking could be developed instead to increase the number of parks available.

The motion received unanimous support, and I hope work will begin soon.