Kiwi under threat as subdivisions spread

Tony Gee reports that proposed planning rule changes could have grave implications for a national treasure.

KERIKERI - Coastal living along much of the Kerikeri inlet could soon take on a new meaning for many established residents, and some fear the worst.

A group of Rangitane residents say proposed planning rule changes could further damage the kiwi habitat and increase pollution and erosion.

The residents say that as a result of the Far North District Council's draft district plan an already poor infrastructure will not be able to cope with a big influx of people moving on to small, subdivided coastal properties.

"We are trying to stop the council [ruining] this peninsula," said a Kurapari Rd resident, Rod Young.

"We don't want to be like Whangaparaoa," says another, Margaret Cooper.

Residents claim that under the council's draft plan a string of 3000 sq m sections along the north and south sides of the Kerikeri inlet will be allowed from the subdivision of 16ha land blocks.

This would happen under proposed land-use rezoning from the present designation of coastal 2 to a coastal living classification.

Mr Young says the thrust of the draft plan seems to be to concentrate development along both sides of the inlet, while leaving some areas away from the water like the north side of Opito Bay Rd as a general coastal zone with 16ha blocks.

There is no sewage system in the area and none is planned.

A new system to replace the already overloaded facility in the greater Kerikeri area is some years away, and it will not cover the Rangitane, Opito Bay or Doves Bay areas on the inlet's north side, or south side rural areas.

A sewerage consultant's report projects population of the main Kerikeri area growing to 18,730 by 2022 - at present it is 4430 - and the greater Kerikeri area growing to 35,000.

These figures would mean about 16,000 people living along the inlet waterway with no sewerage other than septic tanks.

Residents say that effluent from the Kerikeri sewerage is sometimes pushed into the inlet from the Waitangi Forest outfall.

More subdivisions will mean septic tanks "by the hundred" on both sides of the inlet, Margaret Cooper says.

The area's clay soils and rock provide poor or non-existent drainage, and the more subdivision is allowed, the more sewage and pollution will enter the waterway.

Most existing land titles in the area also have Land Information Memorandum (Lim) reports advising of moderate erosion risks in a district frequently subject to heavy rainfall.

Dr Greg Blunden, manager of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust's Aroha Island Ecological Centre, says the Kerikeri Peninsula has between 40 and 50 adult kiwi.

Around half of these are probably in the bush in or near the ecological centre at Rangitane.

"There is any amount of evidence that places like this in Northland are a strong kiwi habitat.

"The birds are surviving in an increasingly hostile environment but land subdivision into smaller lots poses an even greater threat," Dr Blunden said.

Already, increased traffic on local roads - because of people and boats using the recently developed 108-berth Doves Bay marina - has been blamed for the deaths of six adult kiwi, all run over at night by vehicles between Sterlings Quarry and Opito Bay.

Permission is being sought to increase the number of berths at the marina by 78.

Dr Blunden said that kiwi deaths on the road at night was indicative of extra traffic generated by the marina.

Roaming dogs were another unwelcome problem for kiwi.

Residents say they know that councils favour subdivisions because they attract more ratepayers and rateable properties when people buy and move in.

Lorraine Hill, chairwoman of the Far North District Council district plan review committee, says lot sizes in the draft plan for the coastal living zone are 8000 sq m as a controlled activity and 5000 sq m as a discretionary activity.

The plan committee was discussing with the Department of Conservation what rules would best safeguard kiwi.

Lorraine Hill said the impact of subdivisions on infrastructure was also being considered by both the plan committee and the council itself.

The plan is expected to be publicly notified in September.