Ranges plan put to House

A controversial local bill to protect the heritage features of 28,000ha of the Waitakere Ranges and foothills has been introduced to Parliament by Waitakere MP Lynne Pillay.

Ms Pillay has said she is confident of mustering enough support for the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill for it to be referred to a select committee and then a further round of public submissions.

Since its first public airing a year ago, the bill has been refined and approved by the Auckland Regional Council, Waitakere City Council and Rodney District Council.

Objectives include ensuring that subdivision is of an appropriate character, scale and intensity, does not harm the heritage features and does not contribute to urban sprawl.

More than 21,000 people live in the heritage area in rural communities, coastal villages and forested suburbs.

During a series of public meetings, about 1000 landowners signed a petition opposing any law that would restrict use of private land lumped in with regional park and conservation areas. The bill's explanatory note says the system will respect public and private rights.