Public to provide direction on use of Blue Goose land

Seldom has a piece of unremarkable Northland land gained so much attention as that at Blue Goose on the southern outskirts of Whangarei.
The 40 hectares of countryside south of the city could soon be rezoned, depending on how the public responds to a call for consultation by the property's owner, Whangarei District Council.
The council's $2.4 million purchase of about 1.8 hectares of the land last May caused a public outcry.
It was to be a "grand new centre" including a visitors information centre, restaurant, business showcase area, picnic area and playground. There was even talk of an "industrial park".
But all plans were quashed after the council, having been advised to consult the public on the plan - dubbed "Project Arrival" - learned the public did not want it.
That came amidst heavy public criticism of ill-fated economic development agency, and partner in the Blue Goose plan, Advance Whangarei.
The council announced in December it would conduct a "business study" of suitable options for a visitors centre. That study will be carried out after economic development officer Jude Thompson starts work next month, and is separate to the council's announcement this week that it will start a new round of consultation on future use of the land at Blue Goose, sometimes referred to as Te Waiiti.
The council's policy and monitoring manager Paul Waanders said the land was now mostly zoned countryside, with some zoned residential.
Mr Waanders said public involvement would be critical to the success of any proposals put forward for the area.
"The most important thing I want the public to know is that we are not going to be dreaming this all up on our own. The submissions last year made it crystal clear that this is a very important piece of public property and the public expect to and have a right to provide direction on this issue.
"We will be holding meetings and advertising opportunities for people to have their say in due course," he said.
An Auckland-based consultant would manage the public consultation process, which was likely to involve public meetings and/or workshops.
"We will be considering how the land, including the sports grounds and wetland, is currently zoned and used and the potential for development of the land, including commercial/light industrial land uses.
"We will be looking at how we can improve the southern entrance to the city, the appropriate use of land next to the state highway, how flooding and other hazards can be minimised, how we can protect special features and how development near Winstone's quarry should be managed."
A draft master plan should be available from around the end of March 2006, and Mr Waanders believed it would be a year before the the council could start any rezoning required.