Town uproar over sandspit development

Battle lines are being drawn in the sand at Ngunguru, near Whangarei, as developers and locals square off over the future of a treasured coastal landmark.

The company that owns Ngunguru Sandspit - a pristine and ecologically significant 115ha piece of land - says it has not made plans for the site, but people at a heated public meeting on Wednesday are furious and more suspicious than ever.

Although the owner, Auckland property development company Landco, may be talking about making some of the land a public reserve, Ngunguru resident James Johnston says it should hand the whole lot over.

Mr Johnston lives about 500m from Landco's boundary. He said the firm should follow the example of Swiss couple Pierre and Jackie Chatelanat, who this week gifted an 843ha farm beside Kaipara Harbour for an Auckland regional park.

"The sandspit really is an opportunity for Landco to create a very good public image."

He appreciated the company arranging the meeting, but he said the meeting was poorly run and anyone who expected to find out what Landco planned was left in a "vacuum".

New Zealand First list MP Brian Donnelly stepped in to lead the meeting after proceedings became chaotic. He summed up the general feeling of those present, including himself, as "leave the bloody thing alone".

When the company said it had no plans for the site, people became "extremely suspicious" and angry.

"People were furious. There was the possibility of a lynching," said Mr Donnelly, explaining why he stepped in. The public believed subdivision was likely. But people would have to work through legal processes to have their opinions heard.

Landco spokesman George Hulbert said on Thursday that the company would release plans for the sandspit to the public late this year or early next year but had wanted to hear the public's ideas first.

Landco is in the business of farming, vineyards and developing residential subdivisions.

Wednesday's meeting was a chance to talk to "the real experts" - the people who live in the area.

"We wanted to get the view of the local community before we put forward potential plans we might have. ... A lot of people want to see plans from us, and we understand that. We will produce them next time we come up," he said.

"We are a commercial land developer, and that's what we do. But from our perspective it's fairly important any plans we put together have careful regard for the features of the landscape, and we realise that this site is an extension of the local community."

Mr Hulbert said he wanted to involve the community in the potential creation and upkeep of a reserve on the sandspit.

The land was zoned "coastal countryside environment" and the district plan allowed uses including forestry, minor earthworks, some vegetation clearance and "subdivision down to 6ha lots", he said.

Although the company recognised the sandspit had significant landscape, ecological, environmental and cultural features, "the point is it's not zoned as a reserve", he said.

Whangarei District Council spokesman Ann Midson said there were heritage sites on the sandspit that had some protection.

- NZPA