Submission on Draft Variation No. 2 Regional Parks
Management Plan Section 55: Waitakere Ranges
To:
Group Manager, Visitor Services & Assets
Auckland Regional Council
Private Bag 92012
Auckland
Email: management.planreview@arc.govt.nz
________________________________________________________________
This submission is in regard to Section 55 of the Regional Parks Management
Plan (Waitakere Ranges) and Proposed Draft Variation No. 2.
The submission is in made in regard to:
(a) The operation of ‘discretionary’ activities within the Waitakere Ranges
Regional Park being sections 18 to 25 in the Draft Variation.
(b) The investigation of mountain biking opportunities within the Waitakere
Ranges Regional Park being section 37 of the Draft Variation.
Discretionary Activities
The submission is in support of the continued allowance of discretionary
activities within the park but opposes the proposed limits on discretionary
activities prior to any assessment being completed on the actual benefits
and impacts of such activities. Specific items opposed include:
“In the meantime, discretionary activities, involving 50 or more participants, will
be limited in some locations in order to protect their amenity qualities for casual
visitors and protect sensitive environments. These limits generally reflect current
levels of activity and will be applied at the following coastal locations;
• Piha (North Piha) = 5
• Piha (Glen Esk) = 5
• Karekare = 5
• Pararaha Valley = 3
• Whatipu = 3
• Anawhata = 3”
Discretionary activities and events within Regional Parks encourage new users to
parks and direct participants to areas which they may not have previously visited.
Increased awareness of parks, their facilities and tracks is likely to encourage reuse and re-visiting on a casual basis after the event.
Events and casual users can be managed where total number of participants,
events centre locations and timing is appropriate. Mandatory event number
limitations as proposed are not an appropriate method of assessing effects and
benefits of discretionary activities.
Individual applications for discretionary activities need to be assessed on their
own merits.
When completing assessments of the suitability of areas to support discretionary
events, consideration also needs to include the views of the participants within
discretionary events in addition to views of casual park users. Consideration of
the views of event participants will provide a more balanced assessment of the
benefits and effects of the activity.
Mountain Biking
This submission supports the proposed investigation of further mountain
biking opportunities within the Waitakere Ranges.
“Mountain biking is permitted on some regional parks on specified tracks and is
specifically provided for in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park. Mountain biking is
however prohibited in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. Nevertheless, illegal
mountain biking is occurring, reflecting a demand for this type of activity in the
Waitakere Ranges.
Investigate whether mountain biking would be suitable and could be adequately
managed in the Waitakere Ranges, in consultation with the community,
recreation specialists, the Department of Conservation and WaterCare Services
Ltd. and other stakeholders , taking into consideration the following factors:
• Accessibility for informal riders with a focus on casual, unstructured biking
suitable for family groups;
• Suitability for a range of riding experiences;
• Availability of or capacity for suitable visitor support infrastructure such a car
parking, toilets and the impact on traffic volumes and road safety;
• The ability to manage and contain mountain biking to approved locations;
• Adverse effects on the natural and cultural environment; and
• Adverse effects on other park users and adjoining communities.
The results of the investigation will be considered at the time of the review of the
Regional Parks Management Plan in 2008/2009.”
I do not wish to be heard in support of my submission but ask that this written
submission be considered.
Submitter Contact Details
(add your name and email/ph here)