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A new park on Waitemata Harbour is a great example of how business, community groups, councils and Government departments can work together for the community's benefit, says Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick.
Speaking yesterday at the official handover of 36.7ha of land at Chelsea Sugar's refinery, Mrs Chadwick said the parties showed foresight, community spirit and commitment to protecting the natural and historical environment.
"It gives other organisations an example of what can be achieved through shared vision and the willingness to step away from a preferred position in order to create a greater benefit for the wider community."
Mrs Chadwick congratulated CSR Ltd, the parent company of Chelsea Sugar, for its willingness to sell part of its industrial estate and she thanked the Chelsea Park Trust, which raised the $20 million price.
She said Chelsea had generously always allowed public access to the park with its ponds and forest and yesterday's handover formalised that access into the future.
The park's forest formed the eastern part of the largest area of native bush left in urban Auckland.
It was a vital part of a wildlife corridor between the Hauraki Gulf islands and the Waitakere Ranges and was home to 31 indigenous bird species.
CSR chairman Dr Ian Blackburne called the park "a wonderful wilderness area in the heart of Auckland".
Next year, Chelsea Sugar would celebrate 125 years of refining on the Chelsea site, and would continue on the remaining 14ha land for many years to come, he said.
The refinery has been allowed to rezone its site for future use as apartments and offices, with the park forming a buffer zone with the suburb of Birkenhead.
Trust chairman Sir David Tompkins said the trust's efforts would have been fruitless but for a $6 million contribution from the ASB Community Trust.
Other contributors were North Shore City Council ($10 million), Auckland Regional Council ($2 million) and the Departments of Conservation and Internal Affairs ( $1 million each).
North Shore City Council is responsible for the park's upkeep.
