Poll backs protecting Waitakere Ranges

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Advocates of legislation to protect the Waitakere Ranges from development say a new poll shows they have overwhelming public support.

Waitakere Ranges Protection Society president John Edgar said the poll reinforced the Waitakere City Council's own findings from extensive community talks.

He said a cautious council misjudged community sentiment when it decided at its meeting on May 26 to delay a decision on stronger protection measures.

The Colmar Brunton poll of 500 people taken between May 25 and 27 found 81 per cent of Waitakere City residents and 77 per cent in the rest of Auckland supported a local government bill to give permanent protection to the ranges, including the foothills.

The proposed legislation was the most contentious issue raised during community talks because it would freeze the district plan and stop any review in favour of subdivision.

Mr Edgar said the poll results would be presented to today's meeting of the council's environmental management committee in an attempt to get the protection project back on track.

The society wanted the council to change its mind about the need for a further year of community talks - instead of deciding on a plan by August.

The Environmental Defence Society said the council should think again about the proposed delay because of the support shown in the poll.

The society was concerned that the delay created the risk of losing a favourable political environment for change, as a general election was due next year.

Labour MPs David Cunliffe and Lynne Pillay have worked with the city council and the Auckland Regional Council over the past 18 months on protection measures.

They told the city council it needed to decide about legislation by late August so briefing notes on the bill could go to Parliament.

Environmental Defence Society senior policy analyst Raewyn Peart said a bill would give the ranges better protection than the Resource Management Act.

The pace of subdivision was increasing, she said, threatening the values that made the area special.

The council's environmental committee chairwoman, Penny Hulse, said people in New Lynn looking up at the ranges might have a different view on protection than the people living in them and having to manage weeds and pests.

The council believed more community input was needed, and that property rights were as important as the need for the ranges to be protected for future generations.

"We need to look at whether enough protection is given by the district plan and structure plans, or whether anything further is needed," said Ms Hulse.

"We won't support legislation that landowners and residents don't want."

Swanson resident and landowners' lobby member Murray Duncan said the council was wise to back off because it had not included nearly 400 rural landowners in his area in discussions.

Landowners opposed legislation, he said.

They wanted the council to stick to a policy of structure plans for the ranges' foothills to control and restrict development.

Waitakere Ranges

* The Waitakere Ranges area includes west coast villages such as Piha, native bush areas and the eastern foothills including Titirangi and Swanson.

* About 60 per cent - 15,000ha - of the land is public park or water conservation areas.

* About 40 per cent is privately owned, and has about 6500 homes.

* Some people propose the whole Waitakere ranges area should be permanently protected from further subdivision by means of a parliamentary local bill that will freeze development.

* A poll of 500 people found 81 per cent of those from Waitakere City and 77 per cent of those from the rest of Auckland supported permanent protection.