15 October 2003

Press release

Good interest in workshops on Waitakere Ranges protection

Waitakere City residents are showing a keen interest in protecting the Waitakere Ranges, with up to 60 people attending community workshops on the issue. So far, six workshops have been held.

The workshops, which began at the end of September and continue until November 13, are enabling residents to have their say on a range of topics relating to the Ranges, including development, human impacts, weeds and pests.

Councillor Penny Hulse, chair of the Council’s Environmental Management Committee, says the meetings have stimulated some healthy debate and ideas.

The workshops discuss the Snapshot of the Ranges report, which provides a detailed ‘stocktake’ of key pressures facing the Ranges and offers some possible ideas on what more could be done to ensure their long-term protection.

The project was sparked by some community group suggestions that the current protection for the Ranges may not be sufficient in the long term, despite a large part of the bush area having been made a regional park, District Plan rules and Council funding to combat pests and weeds.

In response, Waitakere City Council, together with the Auckland Regional Council, iwi (Te Kawerau a Maki) and local MPs David Cunliffe and Lynne Pillay, developed a process to talk these issues through with the community.

Research was conducted on the state of the Ranges and foothills, looking at what values people place on them and how current management roles are working. Possible responses and actions form the basis of discussion at the public workshops.

Cr Hulse strongly urges people to attend the remaining workshops, which focus on sharing information and providing an opportunity for feedback.

“It is vital to hear from as many people as possible, as the future of the Ranges needs to be planned together with the wider community,” she says.

“We want to hear the ideas of landowners who live in the Ranges, the coastal villages and the foothills. We also want to talk to people who simply use and enjoy the Ranges.”

Residents are invited to attend one of the 10 remaining workshops:

AREA DATE TIME VENUE
WAITAKERE CITY BUSINESS Mon 20 Oct 6.30-8.30pm Enterprise Waitakere, Level 3, John Henry Centre
WAITAKERE TOWNSHIP Tues 21 Oct 6.30-8.30pm Waitakere Community Hall, Bethells Rd
TE ATATU Thurs 23 Oct 7-9pm Te Atatu Peninsula Community Centre, 595 Te Atatu Rd
WAIATARUA Thurs 30 Oct 6.30-8.30pm Waiatarua Community Hall, 911 West Coast Rd
PIHA Sat 1 Nov 10am-noon Piha Surf Club
LAINGHOLM Thurs 6 Nov 6.30-8.30pm Laingholm Hall, 79 Victory Rd
HUIA / CORNWALLIS / PARAU Sat 8 Nov 10am-noon Huia Hall, 1258 Huia Rd
BETHELLS / TE HENGA Mon 10 Nov 6.30-8.30pm Bethells Beach Life Saving Club
TITIRANGI Tues 11 Nov 6.30-8.30pm Titirangi War Memorial Hall, South Titirangi Rd
ORATIA Thurs 13 Nov 6.30-8.30pm Oratia Settlers Hall, 569 West Coast Rd

ENDS

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