Feasibility Report Proposing Coromandel Becomes a Heritage Region.

Coromandel could become the first heritage region in the country.

"We have an opportunity now to seriously consider how we can preserve, enhance and recognise what is special and unique about the Coromandel," says Thames-Coromandel District Mayor Glenn Leach.

"This includes its superb natural environment, its vibrant communities and the associated heritage and cultures of the region - so our grandchildren and great-grandchildren can experience social prosperity with a guarantee of future enjoyment of the 'Coromandel that we are lucky to have now.."

A feasibility report released this week proposes the Thames-Coromandel District Council could benefit from becoming an International Union of Conservation in Nature (IUCN) Category V protected landscape that covers both natural areas and communities of the Coromandel.

Other examples of protected landscapes are in Australia, Scotland, Japan, Spain, the Lakes District in the United Kingdom, but there are none specifically in New Zealand.

The feasibility report written by Miles Media, one of the largest destination focused marketing agencies in the world, was presented at a round table discussion to representatives from our Council, government, iwi, Regional Council and DOC on Monday.

“This is an opportunity to preserve and keep sustainable what is so special about our district - while putting some real, tangible value on it," says Mayor Glenn Leach. "A Coromandel Heritage Region can be a reality. It’s something we can see; touch and experience. And it's an experience that's good for the soul ."

FEASIBIILTY REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

The report makes several recommendations including:

• The establishment of a Coromandel Accord – a high-level agreement between our Council, The Waikato Regional Council, DOC, iwi, industry and sector groups and the community to reaffirm the key values that all seek to protect and enhance.

• Signature conservation projects – defining and establishing important community and conservation projects that were agreed in principle during the Accord process.

• Signature species monitoring – within the Coromandel Heritage Region defining a set of 10 or so significant and representative species which would be monitored and reported on annually to publicly highlighting progress around protecting and enhancing the natural environment.

• Sustainable Development Plan and Fund – developing a Plan with 5, 10 and 25 year targets in employment, business creation and community well-being

“The propositions in the feasibility report are not a fait accompli, but the basis for looking at the future of the Coromandel in its entirety,” says Mayor Leach.

“This is a high-level document which speaks to the vision of the Coromandel as a heritage region. And while there may be concerns about individual rights and self-interest groups, this document needs to be seen in a wider context in that it’s the basis for the first discussions and debates. The detail will fall out as discussions continue and I am looking forward to having these discussions in the following weeks and months and years with all our communities, iwi and other regional and central government agencies," he says.

WHY THE PROPOSAL OF A HERITAGE REGION NOW?

We have been signalling for some time that we wanted to investigate the proposition of the Coromandel as a Heritage Region.

It was sign-posted in our 2014 Annual Plan, our 2015-2025 Long Term Plan. During this time there have also been various discussions with numerous groups and people, including Conservation Minister Maggie Barry earlier this year, who also agreed the concept of the Coromandel as a Heritage Region warranted further investigation.

Minor government legislation would need to be passed recognising the Coromandel to be designated IUCN status. No major changes would be required to our District Plan.

“The Coromandel has such a compelling case for becoming a Heritage Region,” says the Mayor. “We have outstanding natural landscapes and biodiversity in close proximity to the golden triangle of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga, more than 55% of our ratepayers living outside the district who have property here to spend their holidays and weekends and we have the highest number of Free Independent Travellers (FITs) who choose the Coromandel as a tourist destination,” says Mayor Leach.

Following the official release of the feasibility report, meetings will now start to be scheduled over the following months and years to discuss the concept in more detail.

“We want to meet with anyone and everyone who has an opinion, an interest and a stake in the future of the Coromandel,” says Mayor Leach. "We know this is going to take time to work through and it's imperative we take that time. This isn't going to be a quick process and we plan to take the following months and years to start initiating and holding meetings. And if anyone wants to talk with me now, my door is always open."

“Becoming a heritage region will take time and effort - but will bring real benefits” he says.

TO READ THE REPORT AND GET MORE DETAIL GO TO OUR WEBPAGE HERE AND DOWLOAD EITHER THE PUBLIC SUMMARY OF CONCEPT OR FULL FEASIBILITY REPORT.

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