Fight for New Chums beach

New Chums Beach is one of the few undeveloped beaches left on the Coromandel. Photo / Alan Gibson

A plan to put one of the country's most pristine beaches back in public hands has been presented to the Government.

Privately owned New Chums beach in the Coromandel is under threat from developers who have proposed 20 houses in the area, eight tucked round an otherwise isolated and untouched bay.

A boatshed and ramp at the beach's northern end are also part of a consent application put to Thames-Coromandel District Council, but now on hold.

That plan has sparked a major campaign against the development.

Prime Minister John Key yesterday said an alternative proposal, from owner and developer John Darby, was to put the land into public ownership.

"There's an opportunity, theoretically, for [the Department of] Conservation to acquire it but it would depend on certain conditions."

DoC is expected to report on the proposal early next year.

- STAFF REPORTER