Auckland Council boss: Idea to break up regional park network didn't cross my desk

Chief operating officer Dean Kimpton said concerns by councillors and the mayoral office about breaking up the 26 regional parks were based on spurious information. Photo / Newstalk ZB

A council boss says breaking up the Auckland regional park network was discussed at brain-storming sessions but the idea never crossed his desk.

Chief operating officer Dean Kimpton said concerns by councillors and the mayoral office about breaking up the 26 regional parks were based on spurious information.

"We have no intent of breaking up the regional park network. We continue to highly value the regional park network," he told the Herald today.

Parks committee chairwoman Christine Fletcher, councillor Mike Lee and mayoral chief of staff Barry Ebert confronted Mr Kimpton and park staff on Thursday last week after hearing of a plan to break up the network.

They understood a plan was reasonably well advanced to bundle the regional parks into three geographical units alongside local parks to create operational and cost efficiencies.

The issue has not come to the parks, recreation and sport committee or Mayor Len Brown.

"It was complete arrogance. They had no mandate for it. It reeks of a council management out of control," a source said.

Mr Kimpton said the only proposal presented to him shows the regional parks as one network.

"Without being at the brain storming sessions I guarantee that suggestions like that(breaking up the network) will have been made, and I have no problem with that.

"But no proposal I have been party to has included breaking up the regional parks network," said Mr Kimpton.

He said he had not seen any written proposals to break up the network.

Breaking up the network has come under fire from the Friends of Regional Parks, whose chairman Bill Burrill wrote to Mr Brown saying it would cause irreparable damage to the parks network.

"Local priorities for already squeezed budgets will end up with parks not getting the resources they need and these incredible regional assets will be degraded," he said.

"Having a regional policy unit making decisions for the network as a whole ensures that all the parks get the resources they need, when they need them."

The regional park network is much loved and treasured by the people of Auckland and visitors alike, said Sandra Coney, chairwoman of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board.

Kit Howden, a regional park volunteer, has written to Mr Brown and council chief executive Stephen Town urging them not to separate the public from their parks.

"As volunteers we do not want the Department of Conservation model with 'relationship managers' and 'partnership specialists. We want trained rangers on the ground," he said.