Te Arai development turned down

The Rodney District Council today released its decision regarding the proposed “Te Arai Special Zone” (Plan Change 105/Proposed Variation 62). The Council “resolved that the recommendations of the Independent Commissioners to decline the above Plan Change… be adopted.”

Te Arai Beach Preservation Society Chairman, Mark Walker said “The Council’s decision to turn down the proposed housing development at Te Arai Beach is a victory for all of the people in our region who have fought so hard to protect this amazing piece of coastline.”

“Te Arai Beach is one of the jewels of Rodney; and we are all so incredibly relieved that the Council has listened to our submissions and chosen to protect this piece of coastline for everyone to enjoy.” Said Mr Walker.

The 20 page commissioners’ report goes into detail about why the commissioners recommended declining the plan change, finding that it “…will not contribute to the ‘protection’ of the unique natural and physical resource…” and that “…the needs of future generations to experience and enjoy a natural and relatively unmodified…” area would be lost.

Feelings were running high in the Society with tears of joy being shed by some, and one member moved to say “Is this what it fees like to win lotto?”

The report also highlighted the potentially devastating effect the change could have on the critically endangered New Zealand Fairy Tern, “…it would be irresponsible to allow unnecessary development which is likely to put the habitat further at risk”. The report says that the proposed development has “…a high potential adverse impact.”

The Society’s ecology spokesperson, Chris Wild said "It’s a fantastic decision for the unique and endangered wildlife that live and breed at Te Arai Beach. Thanks to RDC, and all those that opposed the development, we have now secured this beautiful and unique beach for all to enjoy now and in the future.

Ms Wild said that in fact the Commissioner’s didn’t just turn down the proposal, but they actually made a number of recommendations about the need to strengthen the level of environmental protection at Te Arai. “We will now be looking to work with RDC, the Department of Conservation, and the Auckland Regional Council to make sure that Te Arai receives the protection that it deserves. Ideally, we would like to see Te Arai become a regional park so that it can be properly managed, and the endangered wildlife there get the protection that they need.”

Mr Walker said that the report had upheld the major aspects of the Society’s objections to the proposal: the loss of remoteness, the disastrous environment effects it would cause, and the fact that it goes against the desire of both the Rodney District Council and the Auckland Regional Council to protect unique rural environments like Te Arai.

Mr Walker concludes: “It upholds the feelings of most who know the area and vindicates the hard work put in by many volunteers in getting the issues publicised. It is a victory for common sense.”

[1] http://rodney.govt.nz/DistrictTownPlanning/DistrictPlan/operative/Documents/Plan%20Change%20105/Te_Arai_decision.pdf

http://www.TeArai.org

ENDS

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