Development of 'paradise' beach stirs local fears

New Chums was voted by the Observer as one of the best unspoiled beaches in the world. Photo / Piotr Zurek

Residents near an iconic beach are unsettled by plans for its development, but owners of the land are promising not to ruin the untouched paradise.

Voted by the Observer as one of the best unspoiled beaches in the world, New Chums is accessible only by boat or 30-minute hike from Whangapoua beach.

Visitors who make the journey are met by an arc of white sand framed by nikau, pohutukawa, rata, with rarely a sound apart from dotterel on the shore.

When Thames-Coromandel mayor Philippa Barriball learned 330ha had been sold to ambitious Queenstown-based developer John Darby and fund manager George Kerr, she wrote them a letter to urge restraint in their plans.

"I wanted them to understand that this beach has a very emotional attachment in our community," she told the Herald.

Mr Darby is responsible for large-scale residential developments, including Queenstown's Jack's Point, a resort with 1800 homes near Lake Wakatipu.

Ms Barriball said the council's lenient District Plan left New Chums vulnerable - developers could legally cut up the hillside into more than 200 lots.

A former owner of the land, Clive Currie, was denied consent for a major subdivision at New Chums and settled for a few lots at Whangapoua.

Mr Darby has told concerned parties he is focused on conservation and preservation of the beach's beauty.

"It is a personal project, a bit of a passion of ours. We do not plan to make any money from it."

Working with the council and Environment Waikato, Mr Darby came up with a plan for 20 inconspicuous lots, 12 overlooking New Chums and eight overlooking Whangapoua.

The developers have made several concessions. A homestead planned for the beachfront has been scrapped, despite securing resource consent.

"It was a great site, but it would have broken the character of the bay," said Mr Darby.

A reserve which stretches along the beachfront will be also gifted to the council, and the public will not be denied access.

Because the property extends to the high-tide mark, the owners had the right to block public access, and foundations for properties could have been built in the sand.

Ms Barriball said the plans were an "amazing compromise".

"There is still a lot of public feeling saying it should not have been allowed to happen at all.

"But there is such a thing as private property rights ... and the developers have been marvellous."

Mr Darby's careful approach has not quelled the concerns of many Coromandel residents and holiday home owners.

Whangapoua Ratepayers Association chairman Erwin Drok is wary of any impingements on the land, feeling it will undermine the untouched character of the beach.

"New Chums is an experience. When you walk over that saddle, you know you are in primitive land. You can see nothing of the hand of man. It is just as Captain Cook would have seen it."

His criticism of the development has been tempered by Mr Darby's plans, which include covenants on each lot to prevent future owners from subdividing. But he said the developments put the council on the slippery slope to allowing New Chums to be carved up in future.

"The best vision would be to leave things alone. Any development is a thin edge, regardless of how good their intentions are."

The resource consent for the 20 lots is at present before an independent commissioner.