Coroglen Saleyard land to become public reserve

For more than 50 years the Coroglen Saleyards was a hub for people to gather, sell and buy farm stock and catch up on the local gossip.

The land will now continue to be a public spot, with our Council purchasing two parcels of land (3766m2 and 1188m2) where the stock sale were held.

"Due to its special place in Coromandel's history we had talked to Wrightsons (the vendors) about the possibility of transferring the land back to the community," says Mayor Leach. "We know this area has always been a special place in Coromandel's farming history and also the heart of the Coroglen community," says Mayor Leach.

Our Council purchased the land for $50,000 and has $95,000 set aside in our Draft Annual Plan for development and maintenance costs.

A working committee, made up of Coroglen community members, our Council staff and members of the Mercury Bay Community Board, are looking at ways the land can be used.

Possible development plans for saleyards

A concept development plan is also available for viewing at The Coroglen Tavern and members of the public are welcome to provide their comments to our Council too. Please emailGemma Osborne in our Mercury Bay office.

The concept plan makes provision for preserving of some of the stock pens, along with the lunch and administration huts.

Heritage signage explaining the history of the sale yards is also being considered along with, car parking, picnic and BBQ areas and a walking track to allow for easy access to the Waiwawa river.

An idea has also been floated for a potential footbridge across the Waiwawa River (next to the one-lane vehicle bridge), but no funding for that has been allocated from any source and New Zealand Transport Agency will need to be approached for their consent.

"We'd like to look at all sorts of options that would allow this piece of land to be maintained by our community as a historical link to what farming has meant to the Coromandel," says Mayor Leach.

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