NEGOTIATIONS have begun to save the iconic Ngunguru Sandpit from development and put it into public ownership.
Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick and Associate Minister of Conservation Mahara Okeroa met representatives of sandspit owner Landco in Tutukaka yesterday in a bid to kick-start a deal for the sandspit.
The low-key meeting was supposed to be kept under wraps, but the Northern Advocate received a tip-off a day earlier.
After a meeting at Schnappa Rock, also attended by Department of Conservation Northland conservator Chris Jenkins, Ms Chadwick announced that negotiations to save the spit from development and put it into public ownership had started.
Earlier in the day the Minister met representatives of the Ngunguru Sandspit Protection Society to discuss their concerns about the sandspit being developed.
Developer Landco has plans for up to 350 sections covering 36ha of the sandspit with another 85ha in reserve. The company was to have lodged a resource consent application by the end of last year.
Landco spokesman George Hulbert said yesterday the development plan was progressing, but acknowledged a "very positive" meeting with Ms Chadwick.
"We have always said we would look seriously at any serious offers. We have had a very positive meeting and we are looking at options to take this forward," Mr Hulbert said.
Ms Chadwick said she was keen to meet the Ngunguru Sandspit Protection Society after the group was one of the first to extend her an invitation to visit when she took over her new role.
And after meeting society members, and seeing the sandspit first hand, she said she was determined to save it from development.
"It's really going to take a range if solutions that really should involve the society, the regional council, district council, iwi and DOC," Ms Chadwick said.
"I thought it was a relatively denuded sandspit, but I was surprised by the cover and the birdlife there. I wanted to see for myself what the impact would be if it was developed.
"I don't want to see it developed, I absolutely don't. It's a beautiful landscape as well as an ecologically important and fragile spot and I just can't physically see it coping with development...especially with global warming."
DOC had earlier suggesting swapping other conservation land for the sandspit, and while previous Conservation Minister Chris Carter ruled that out, Ms Chadwick said it was one of the possibilities to be negotiated.
"I'd like to see the sandspit protected for ever, for future generations. The society gave us their views on what they would like to see there, which sounds beautiful _ a bird sanctuary with public access with a big educational component. I'd like to see it as a place of learning as it's such a great educational asset and I support their vision," she said.
Society secretary Rick Bazeley said the group was pleased Ms Chadwick had started negotiations with Landco and did not want to see the sandspit developed.
"We think Landco is sitting on a bit of a dead duck here and the best solution for them is to work with DOC and other stakeholders towards negotiating a buy out or land swap scenario," Mr Bazeley said.
"This has been going on for 40 years and negotiations have occurred in the past, but hopefully 2008 will be when it finally happens."
• Anyone concerned about coastal development can have their say on the Government's draft Coastal Policy Statement, open for submissions now. Visit www.doc.govt.nz
Mystery sandspit meeting
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