Parks project confuses public
Tamaki residents have criticised an open spaces plan for being too complicated and not publicly consulted.
The Maungakiekie-tamaki Local Board has delayed acceptance of Auckland Council’s Tamaki Open Space Network Plan (TOSNP) after feedback from a community drop-in session requested councillors undertake an extensive public consultation process on the draft plan.
The TOSNP is a 10 to 15 year initiative which provides the local board with necessary steps towards giving Tamaki sustainable and quality open spaces, such as parks, sporting areas, and cultural experience.
Also outlined were a number of proposed land exchanges in conjunction with the Tamaki Regeneration Company (TRC) that would result sections of reserve land being rezoned for development, and vice versa.
TRC is a housing development company, jointly owned by the Government and Auckland Council.
Eight green spaces, including Maybury Reserve and Wimbledon Reserve had been identified for land exchanges.
Panmure Community Action Group secretary Keith Sharp said this was test case for future conduct of development in the area and full and open public consultation would set a precedent for similar projects.
Community concerns were raised over similarities seen between the TOSNP and the Point England Development Enabling bills consultation process, which resulted in the Government removing reserve status on nearly 12ha of land for housing developments with no public consideration, he said.
The complex nature of the draft proposal was also causing issue with residents, who stated they didn’t fully understand what it was detailing, he said.
Auckland Council’s senior policy manager for parks, sports and recreationspaul Marriot-lloyd said due to the size of the project, the plan was required to reflect this, meaning it would not be easily understood in a single viewing.
The 100-page document included information on infrastructure requirements, transport projects, pedestrian and cycle movements, and park and amenity projects.
Consultation was forecast to be held in late October or early November.