Bay Of Islands Scenic Reserve Extended

The Department of Conservation is pleased that it has been able to acquire an additional 4.3 hectares of land adjoining Kororareka Scenic Reserve as part of an agreement with the estate of the late Beryl Brown.

DoC senior conservation office Shaughan Anderson said the agreement was a credit to both parties involved as it had allowed beneficiaries of the estate to realise the value of the property while also extending the reserve for the public of New Zealand.

"We are so very pleased with the win win situation that has come as the result of a commitment from both parties," Mr Anderson said.

DOC has recently reached agreement with the trustees of the Beryl Brown estate for the land which has come in exchange for access to Titore Way. This leads onto two 1 hectare blocks on the northern side of the Point which will be sold by the trustees to realise the estate property.

The two 1-hectare blocks will be allowed to have a maximum of one dwelling within specific design specifications while the balance of sites will be subject to covenants to preserve their existing bush cover.

This settlement has come as the result of negotiations between DoC and the trustees. The land was identified in the 1970s as a desirable addition to the Kororarka Scenic Reserve and had been designated for this purpose. The designation was later removed, however, as DoC had not secured the funds to complete a purchase of the land.

An exchange was proposed instead allowing DoC to acquire the most important parts of the headland but at the same time allowing the creation of two new lots on the northern side of the point near the existing housing on Titore Way.

Work on the accessway that will service the two building sites is scheduled to start in the next month

© Scoop Media