KEY POINTS:
A developer plans to carve up Ngunguru Sandspit into 350 sections and an 85ha reserve.
Landco was supposed to reveal its plans at a news conference yesterday but inadvertently posted them on its website a day early.
An angry Ngunguru Coast Action Group has vowed to fight the plans. Group spokeswoman Anna Murphy was "aghast" at the scale of the plans. Any development of the sandspit would be opposed as it was "too sensitive an area in every respect for development".
The plans include a 350-lot "coastal village" of about 1000 people covering 36ha, with buildings set back from the shore to reduce visual impact, and a large reserve at the spit's northern tip.
Landco said it would give more details about its plans today.
The village - including a community green and shop - would cover just under a quarter of Landco's 152ha property made up of the sandspit and the neighbouring Whakairiora block.
Landco spokesman Bruce Waters stated in the newsletter that it would be a "compact development with clearly defined, fixed boundaries to minimise land take and maximise open space and reserve areas".
"Covenants would control the style of buildings and material used to ensure that they are locally sourced and natural materials wherever possible."
Significant sites would be protected, including neighbouring Whakairiora mountain, which local hapu Te Waiariki holds sacred, an urupa and the Rangikorero pa site. Mature native trees would also be protected.
"We want to create a settlement that respects the sandspit's natural and cultural landscape and sets new standards in coastal development," Mr Waters said.
Landco will finalise its plans early next year and then lodge resource consent applications. The initial plans will be outlined at public meetings at Ngunguru Hall today, tomorrow and Saturday.
The sandspit is zoned coastal countryside living and as of right could be subdivided into 20ha lifestyle blocks - but Mr Waters said that would be against the principles of good coastal design.
"It would exclude public access, fragment the landscape and natural eco-systems and reduce the opportunities for managing the significant archaeological sites and habitats," he said.
Ms Murphy said the sandspit had been flooded by the sea at least five times since the 1970s, and many times before that.
"It's just amazing they think they can get way with this. It is going to flood again. It's a low-lying, shifting sands area, and who's going to pay when it goes wrong - the ratepayer?"
Ms Murphy said Whangaumu Bay across the water had already been developed, and if no one put up a fight eventually the whole coast, from Orewa to Paihia, would be ruined.
"It's just a beautiful place. Let's preserve it for future generations," she said.
LANDCO'S PLANS
350-section "coastal village" covering 36ha
Raise level of land to protect houses against flooding
85ha reserve
Public access to spit's ocean beach
Covenants to control style of buildings
Sacred Whakairiora mountain to be protected
Ban on cats
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
