Paul and Tania Desmond plan to walk away from Utea Park on Ninety Mile Beach. Photo / Peter Jackson
Paul and Tania Desmond plan to walk away from Utea Park on Ninety Mile Beach. Photo / Peter Jackson
A campground used by hikers on the Te Araroa long-distance trail has closed down after years of interaction with the Far North District Council over compliance issues.
Paul and Tania Desmond opened their Utea Park property, 17km north of Waipapakauri Ramp on Ninety Mile Beach, to guests in 2003 withcouncil attention starting in 2011.
Mr Desmond said pressure from the council had "ramped up" in April and had reached the point where it was intolerable.
Mediation had not succeeded, although, as requested by the council, three cabins had been removed, and more were to have been sold next week.
"Then we got fined again," he said. "We can't win."
Three cabins have been sold, with more due to go next week. Photo / Peter Jackson
Far North District Council acting environmental services manager Jeremy Kirwan told the Northland Age the council had not closed the park, but compliance officers had visited it on numerous occasions over the last eight years in response to reports of buildings being illegally constructed and the site being used as an unregistered campsite.
A number of compliance notices had been issued to the Desmonds, and Horwath Trustee Services (Kaitaia), over the years.
They included a notice to fix illegal building work in 2011, a notice of closure, issued by the environmental health officer, in 2015, abatement notices for breaches of the district plan earlier this year, another notice to fix illegal building work in March this year (with compliance due by June 30), another notice to fix in July, and enforcement notices for failing to comply with abatement notices, issued on August 2.
"Unfortunately, Mr and Mrs Desmond have chosen not to comply with current legislation, have not obtained resource and building consents, and have not gained a Certificate of Camp Ground Registration," Kirwan said.
"Mr Desmond has stated he has no intention of bringing the site into compliance with legislative requirements. Throughout this period the owners have run the property as a commercial campground, charging campground fees to a significant number of campers during the summer period.
"At the same time, Hukatere Park operates next door. This business is a registered camp site, and is fully compliant with environment, planning and other regulations."
Desmond said he had endeavoured to reach an agreement with the council but had not been successful.
When he told a council officer that closure would mean tourists, particularly those walking Te Araroa, would have no access to toilets or any other facilities between the Bluff and Waipapakauri Ramp, she had told him they could "use the dunes".
"We walked away at that point," he said.
It was with heavy hearts that he and his wife were packing up to leave, with nowhere to move to, but there was more to it than losing their business and lifestyle. They had no doubt that closing the camp could potentially put some visitors' lives at risk.
"Let's just say the rescue helicopter knows where we are and Far North Surf Rescue (at Ahipara) is more than an hour away. I don't think the council knows what we do here."
Waimanoni man Laurie Austen agreed, saying he was ''extremely concerned'' about the effect of closing the park in terms of security, especially for those who walked the beach.
Meanwhile news of the closure has attracted worldwide interest on social media, one man saying he was "Gutted... You guys were amazing when I stayed. Best of luck."
