The proposed changes to the Council’s Regional Coastal Plan are a response to calls to better protect the harbour - recognised as an area of international wildlife importance - from subdivision, development and inappropriate use.
Council Planning and Policy Manager Glenn Mortimer says a series of four public meetings will be held from later this month in a bid to seek public feedback on the proposal.
He says under the Regional Coastal Plan, the 10,000-hectare harbour is currently primarily zoned a ‘Marine 2 (Conservation) Management Area’ - a designation that seeks to conserve existing environmental values but still allows for appropriate use and development.
However, Mr Mortimer says as a result of appeals on the Plan, the Council is now proposing to upgrade about 3100ha of the harbour to a ‘Marine 1 Management (MM1) Area’.
“Such a reclassification would recognise areas of important conservation value and would give even more priority to protecting the harbour’s conservation values from subdivision, use and development.”
An MM1 designation would rule out marina developments and make it harder to gain approval to dredge or reclaim and to discharge certain substances. It would also mean tighter restrictions on the development of new structures like ramps and jetties and the removal and pruning of live mangroves.
“If activities are proposed in MM1 areas that will impact on their important natural values then these activities are unlikely to be allowed.”
However, Mr Mortimer says an MM1 designation would not affect fishing or shellfish gathering.
He says as proposed, the rezoning will affect areas that currently have little or no current development. These include:
- The sand banks in the middle of the harbour
- The eastern side of the harbour between Limestone (Matakohe Island) and One Tree Point
- Motukaraka Island and Waikaraka (encompassing the new marine reserve)
- Around The Nook and Frenchman Island and Busby Head at the mouth of the harbour
Mr Mortimer says the Council is keen to get as much public input as possible before deciding whether to proceed with the planned changes.
To that end Council, staff have arranged public meetings on the following days at the following locations;
- Taurikura, Tuesday, 22 February. Taurikura Hall, Whāngārei Heads Rd
- Whāngārei, Wednesday, 23 February. Northland Regional Council, 36 Water Street (old ‘Northern Advocate’ building)
- Tamaterau, Thursday, 24 February. Tamaterau Hall, Whāngārei Heads Road
- One Tree Point, Tuesday, 1 March. One Tree Point School Hall, One Tree Point Rd
All four meetings start at 7pm.
Mr Mortimer says information gathered at the meetings will be analysed and the findings reported to Councillors next month (March) for a final decision.