'Sensational views' saved for public at Long Bay

Long Bay Regional Park. Photo / Paul Estcourt

About 23ha of a housing developer's land at Long Bay will go into public reserves to form a green buffer for the popular North Shore regional park and beach.

The North Shore City Council yesterday announced it had reached agreement with Todd Property Group for public ownership of 18.7ha zoned for protecting archaeological sites, as well as 4.6ha for parks.

Long Bay-Okura Great Park Society convener Chris Bettany said: "We are thrilled - it gives the public absolutely sensational views."

The land includes some of a grassy southern slope which the society had hoped to buy to retain as a green backdrop to the park and protect the rural look of its Beach Rd entrance.

However, despite raising $7 million in pledges, the society could not meet the developer's price because the council had not protected the slope from housing.

Todd's project covers 162.7ha, with plans for over 2000 houses and a village centre in 10 to 15 years.

Mayor Andrew Williams said the land saved for the public was worth $35 million and was the biggest land deal in Auckland in the past year.

However, no money changed hands. Council chief executive John Brockies said the land and heritage protection area was paid for by a reduction in the normal compulsory developer contributions assessed on the company's plans for each building site.

In return, the company had the certainty of knowing the park's layout and where future stages of development could go.

Mr Brockies said the council worked for 12 years to integrate planning at this last undeveloped beach in metropolitan Auckland.

Ms Bettany thanked the Auckland Regional Council for backing the society's case in the Environment Court against both the city council's and the company's structure plan development proposals.