ARC buys block of land to stop housing developments obscuring access to park
One of Auckland's more spectacular regional parks, with breathtaking views of the Hauraki Gulf, has been enlarged to protect it from housing developments.
To avoid the risk of large houses obscuring the park's entrance off the coastal road to the Firth of Thames, the Auckland Regional Council has bought 13.7haof land for $2.6 million as an addition to the 148ha Duder Regional Park.
That will allow the council to enhance the entrance to the park, which occupies the pohutukawa-fringed Whakakaiwhara Peninsula between Maraetai and Clevedon, and to develop facilities such as a camping ground and a camper-van site on flat land at its base.
The chairwoman of the council's parks and heritage committee, Sandra Coney, said yesterday the previous owner of the land wanted to subdivide it "so the ARC has to act when that sort of opportunity comes up. Otherwise we would have had a few big houses looking as if they are right in the park".
Ms Coney said although Duder was one of the most stunning parks in the council's 40,000ha-plus network, it was not well known.
It attracts about 54,000 visitors a year, compared with the more than one million people who flock annually to Long Bay Regional Park.
"The additional land will allow a greater range of activity, such as camping, horse-riding and camper-vanning and increase the prominence of the park, by enabling a much better entrance," Ms Coney said.
"The protection of the hills at the beginning of the Whakakaiwhara Peninsula will ensure Duder Regional Park retains its pastoral beauty for all time."
About 100ha of the park is farmed using sustainable agricultural practices and the remainder has been retired and fenced off to protect coastal margins, wetlands and significant large old trees.
It is renowned for panoramic views of the Hauraki Gulf and its islands, and also contains a well-preserved pa site.
Visitors have to park their cars at the base of the peninsula, but can explore it on foot, on mountain bikes, or on horseback by obtaining a permit for a code to open farm gates.
The park is rich in native and introduced bird species and the regional council aims to develop a smaller remote campsite on the peninsula as part of a coastal kayaking trail.
