Viewpoint – Safeguarding recreational facilities

The Ōrewa Surf Club was standing room only for a recent meeting opposed to plans for the retreat of the beach along the northern reserve. The meeting was well organised and thoughtfully presented with a credible solution. In other parts of Auckland there are similar situations where a concerted pushback is required to force a change in approach by council. 

Our reserves and open spaces are precious, even more so as our population on the Hibiscus Coast continues to grow. The strong turn-out for the Ōrewa Reserve meeting shows how important these assets are to our community. Having already put in place sloping rock revetments to the north, then a new rock wall, and rocks to protect much of the rest of the beach along to the Ōrewa Reserve, it makes sense to have consistency, especially to protect the reserve and its assets for as long as possible. The recent consultation process did not include any option other than ‘naturalisation’ together with a protective structure in front of the surf club (so there’s already some form of wall in the location). There remains no consideration of returning the estuary closer to its original form from the 1950s when the outgoing current replenished the beach sand. Hopefully, the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board can revisit its earlier position.

Elsewhere in Auckland, our recreational assets are under threat. The most popular golf course in New Zealand at Takapuna, next to the motorway, is proposed by part of Council for a stormwater detention project involving a combination of artificial wetlands, dry basin and large mounds of soil – with insufficient consideration of the future recreational use. The Takapuna Golf Course on the other hand has a plan to accommodate the same amount of stormwater detention with a large dry basin that has the 18-hole public golf course inside. The golf course can continue to maintain the park, saving the council $400,000 in maintenance plus the $310,000 per year it pays in in rates and revenue. Of note is the tremendous surge in golf’s popularity, no doubt encouraged by the successes of Lydia Ko and Ryan Fox. All the more reason to safeguard the Gulf Harbour course.

Further afield, Western Springs Stadium could lose its natural amphitheatre ambience with the loss of Ponsonby Rugby, Speedway, festivals and concerts, all part of Auckland’s recreational history.

To quote the singer Joni Mitchell ‘you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’. We need to safeguard these important recreational assets that we enjoy locally and within the Auckland region.

The Ōrewa Library is looking great, and the new mezzanine creates a space for reading and studying. Recently the Metro Park Trust presented to the Local Board with a view to continuing progress on the pavilion and toilets, then later an indoor stadium by the hockey facility. 

We are fortunate to have many individuals and groups that take an interest in our reserves and recreational places and will stand-up for them. I look forward to continuing to work with them.