Land purchase boosts regional park network
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23/07/2015. 00:01
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The purchase of an 78 hectare property on South Head Road will help boost opportunities to develop recreation activities at Auckland Council’s Te Rau Puriri Regional Park on the southern edge of Kaipara Harbour.
Auckland Council Property Ltd (ACPL) finalised the deal to buy 3202 South Head Road for an undisclosed sum recently - the acquisition providing a strategic link between the park and 3308 South Head Road, which the council purchased in 2013.
“This land, with its ecological and cultural heritage values, will significantly add to Te Rau Puriri as well as consolidating the parkland,” says chair of the council’s Parks, Recreation and Sport committee Christine Fletcher.
“It also means that in the future we will be able offer a range of recreational opportunities and access to a significant length of Kaipara Harbour coastline, where few access points exist.”
Council will keep and maintain a small number of dry stock on the land as it carries out further ecological and heritage assessments and develops a concept plan to guide future development and use of park land.
That also means public access will be restricted in the near future.
Auckland Council manager of regional parks, Richard Hollier says any development of the park is still a way off yet.
“We’ve still got a bit of work to do to get the lay of the land so to speak, and in the future will be working with stakeholders, including neighbours, residents and iwi on developing a concept to protect and activate the park for visitors to enjoy.”
ACPL manager of acquisitions, Clive Fuhr, says it was privileged be able to play a part in growing this network further with this purchase.
“Our regional park network is an important asset for Auckland, providing much needed green spaces and bush land, at a time when Auckland is experiencing rapid population growth.”
About Te Rau Puriri Regional Park
Purchased in 2005, Te Rau Puriri is a 247 hectare property at South Head on the South Kaipara Peninsula. Te Rau Puriri is an undeveloped park but is unique because it offers access to one of the best beaches on the Kaipara Harbour and the major lake (Lake Ototoa) on the peninsula.
About Auckland Council regional parks
Auckland Council manages 26 regional parks, encompassing more than 40,560 hectares – about 40 per cent of public open space in the Auckland region More than five million visits a year are made to Auckland Council’s regional parks.