Have your say on Long Bay Regional Park

Now is the chance to have your say on Auckland Regional Council's draft concept design options for Long Bay Regional Park.

Following an initial open day in May, feedback received from the local and regional communities has been used to prepare three different concept design options for the long-term development of the park.

The ARC is holding an open day at Picnic Site 5 in the park (follow the signs from the park entrance) on Saturday 6 November from 10am * 3pm for people to view the options.

The options provide improvements to the park including:

* better traffic access, circulation and car parking; * increased opportunities for pedestrian circulation throughout the park; * enhanced recreational opportunities; and * options for extending natural restoration. The options differ in the placement of park entrances, car parks, internal roading and park facilities.

The closing date for comments on the three draft concept plans is Friday 26 November 2004. All comments will be considered for the park's final plan.

Long Bay Regional Parks is 22km or about 30 minutes drive from downtown Auckland and is a favourite regional park of many Aucklanders, attracting well over one million visitors a year.

The park provides a backdrop to a great stretch of beach for safe swimming, a wealth of shady picnic spots, plenty of open space, a miniature railway and disabled friendly playground. The sweeping beach adjoins a marine reserve while the park itself also has stands of native bush, the historic Vaughan Homestead and a restaurant.

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