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Resolution
number KT/2022/45
MOVED by Chairperson J Gillon, seconded by Member M
Kenrick:
That
the Kaipātiki Local Board:
a)
receive the
assessment of the change of designation of Chelsea Estate Heritage Park and
adjacent Kauri Point Centennial Park and Chatswood Reserve to a regional park.
b)
reiterate its
support for either Chelsea Estate Heritage Park on its own, or Chelsea Estate
Heritage Park combined with Kauri Point Centennial Park and Chatswood
Reserve, to become a new
regional park in recognition of the unique heritage, history, ecology and
general significance of Chelsea Estate Heritage Park and the wider headland.
c)
note that there is
no current framework for assessing whether a local reserve should be
designated a regional park, and that while the three factors of Values,
Outcomes and Decision-making allocation principles have been applied to
evaluating Chelsea Estate Heritage Park, they do not appear to have been
applied to a combined Chelsea Estate Heritage Park, Kauri Point Centennial
Park and Chatswood Reserve.
d)
disagree with some
of the conclusions of the staff assessment outlined in the agenda report,
including that:
i)
Chelsea Estate
Heritage Park is impacted by ongoing operations at the Chelsea Sugar Factory:
on the contrary, the heritage nature of the factory adds to the aesthetics,
vista and history of the park; Chelsea Sugar allows park visitors to access
their land, including the playground and carpark; Chelsea Sugar takes a keen
interest on the development and upkeep of the park. When the three parks are
viewed as a whole, the factory takes up a small amount of the headland.
ii)
Chelsea Estate
Heritage Park has limited recreation opportunities: on the contrary, the
three parks have a large network of tracks of varying difficulty, as well as
ponds, open grass areas for recreation and picnicing, a large sandy beach in
Kendall Bay, scenic lookouts, and a connection to Chelsea Bay. There are also
heritage features and an artwork.
iii) Chelsea Estate Heritage Park is predominantly
used by the local board’s residents: the research actually showed that
40% of visitors came from the
Kaipātiki Local Board area, which is not a majority, and that 40%
came from further afield than the North Shore and Waitakere. Regardless of
that, the three parks are currently local parks, and not promoted as a
regional park, so it is to be expected than many visitors are local and is a
conclusion that is likely to be reached for any prospective regional park
(with many not actually attracting any visitors in their former lives as
private property). We believe that as a regional park, the reach of the park
would indeed be regional, and be highly popular with it being visible from a
large part of urban Auckland, and much more accessible to Aucklanders than
many current regional parks.
iv) Visitor infrastructure is insufficient to
cater to Auckland-wide catchment: this would be the case for any prospective
regional park (especially those that are formally private property). However
the Chelsea cottages and Manager house have scope to be repurposed from
tenanted homes to visitor infrastructure, heritage attractions, ranger
accommodation, or accommodation for over-night park visitors. There is space
around the toilet block for expansion if required. There is space to expand
or upgrade carparks if required. There is grass space that could be enhanced
with BBQs and park furniture, if required.
v)
The reserve is not
used to host major events: It is not currently used for events, other than
private weddings. However it does have the space to be used for events, and
applications for such have been received in the past.
d)
note that in lieu
of the creation of a regional park, staff are considering how best to address
the issues identified for Chelsea Estate Heritage Park, Kauri Point
Centennial Park and Chatswood Reserve in the Kaipātiki Local Parks
Management Plan, which is due for completion at the end of 2022.
e)
note that within
the draft Regional Parks Management Plan the following issues have been
identified for which a combined regional park of Chelsea Estate Heritage
Park, Kauri Point Centennial Park and Chatswood Reserve would satisfy:
i)
To provide for the
growing population and increased development in many areas purchase of more
regional parkland will be desirable. Population growth is planned to be
concentrated in and around central Auckland, Albany, and North West Auckland.
ii)
Radical changes are
needed including both how we access regional parks and the emissions created
from visiting regional parks.
iii) Mode shifts is more likely to be possible
where people live near a regional park or the park is near an urban
area. Chelsea offers a unique opportunity for Auckland to access a
regional park by walking, boating, cycling or via public transport. The
remoteness of regional parks may be a barrier in accessing them with
EV.
iv) Need for Regional parks to provide for
increasingly diverse recreational needs, such as paddleboarding, kite
surfing, and biking opportunities. There are many sheltered bays surrounding
Chelsea that would be suitable for paddleboarding and water recreation. There
is also the potential space for both e-bike and mountain biking opportunities
to be developed within the park.
f)
invite the members
of the Parks, Arts,
Community and Events committee to a site visit prior to making a decision on
the regional park proposal.
g)
request the
opportunity for the Chairperson and Member Melanie Kenrick to address the
Parks, Arts, Community and Events committee on 7 April 2022 in support of
changing the designation of Chelsea Estate Heritage Park and adjacent Kauri
Point Centennial Park and Chatswood Reserve to a regional park.
CARRIED
Note: Under Standing Order 1.9.7 Member A Shaw requested
his vote recorded against this motion.
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