Residents fear sale will affect refuge

TOP 10: Waikareao Estuary walkway could be affected by city council greenbelt plans.PHOTO/FILE

One of Tauranga's top 10 attractions, the Waikareao Estuary walkway, could be hit by a city council plan to sell part of a greenbelt for housing.

The walkway and the estuary's status as a Department of Conservation wildlife refuge may end up taking centre stage of a campaign by Avenues residents to save the greenbelt beside Takitimu Drive.

Barry Coghlan, whose views from 5th Ave were threatened by the first of a series of council land sales along the greenbelt, spotted the reference to the wildlife refuge on planning maps.

He has notified the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and was seeking a larger scale map of the estuary to check if the refuge was included in land the council wanted to sell.

Mr Coghlan also discovered that the estuary's walkway was listed as one of Tauranga's top 10 attractions. He questioned whether the hundreds of walkers and cyclists that used the section of walkway between 4th and 8th Avenues would get the same sense of enjoyment if the land was covered in houses. "I don't think they would."

Opposition to the land sales saw Mayor Stuart Crosby and a group of councillors talk to nearby residents earlier this week.

Mr Coghlan, who was dismayed to discover that the views from his new home were threatened despite going through due diligence, met with Mr Crosby.

He said legal action was a last resort and his first line of attack was to stop the sale of the two sections at the bottom of 4th Ave, along with the rest of the land that adjoined the walkway and Takitimu Drive. "Let's focus on the main issue first."

Mr Coghlan, a semi-retired engineer, intends to check the council's original consent to build Takitimu Drive to see if any undertakings were given to iwi about the land the council proposed to sell.

Andrew von Dadelszen who lives in 4th Ave was assured by councillors on Tuesday that staff were getting straight on to the issue and it would be considered as part of the 2015-25 Long Term Plan.

"They promised they would not do anything without coming back to us first."

He highlighted the potential importance of the land for future widening of Takitimu Drive, saying the alternative to reclaim more of the estuary would only get harder.

Mr von Dadelszen also questioned how losing the land would impact on the rule that no city resident should live further than 500m from a reserve or green space. If the land ended up getting built on, the closest green space to his neighbourhood would be 800m.

He said some councillors recognised the aesthetics of having a green space on their right as they drove into town. "It is our entrance to the city."

Mr von Dadelszen said it was the only area in central Tauranga where dogs could be let off the leash.

"Everybody has an opinion on this. As a last resort, we would call a public meeting."