Council land once set for Waiwhakareke reserve up for sale again

Monday, 15 February 2016

Advocates of a Hamilton natural heritage park are bracing for a showdown as land, once set for protection, looks to be flogged off to developers.

Hamilton City Council staff will recommend the sale of a 5.1 hectare block of land adjacent to the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park to Thursday's Finance Committee meeting - a move councillor Martin Gallagher condemned as 'tragically short sighted'.

Waiwhakareke Advisory Group chairman Professor Bruce Clarkson was equally miffed after going in to bat for the land when it was recommended for sale in 2014.

He said the latest report which led to the recommendation was deficient.

**READ MORE:

*[Compromise keeps land bordering heritage park off market

](http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/9773345/Compromise-keeps-land-bordering-heritage-park-off-market)*[Council defers decision on Waiwhakareke reserve

](http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/10102952/Council-defers-decision-on-Waiwhakareke-reserve)*[Last link to Hamilton's original habitat at risk

](http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/9698863/Last-link-to-Hamiltons-original-habitat-at-risk)*U-turn on block by Heritage Park**

'It seems to be very quickly moving to make a decision, a very hasty and ill-informed decision,' said Clarkson.

In September 2013, one month before the local body elections, council put the land into reserve title to include it in the Waiwhakareke reserve but it was revoked by a new council in May 2014 and put in freehold title.

Then there was a plan to sell the property - valued between $600,000 and $1.4 million at the time - but that was put on hold, until now.

At an estimated $3.1m, moves are afoot to sell it and Clarkson said there was an army of volunteers who were unhappy.

'The community groups that have been working there have been working in good faith and basically feel they have been let down,' he said.

Development of the empty section could result in stormwater runoff into Horseshoe Lake. Consultants to council, Boffa Miskell, said the land lacked enough ecological or landscape value to warrant protection and the effects of urban development could be mitigated.

The recommendation would have to pass the test at the Finance Committee meeting and be scheduled for a future, full council meeting before a final decision can be made.

The proposed sale flew in the face of the Local Government Leaders Climate Change Declaration of which Hamilton's council is a signatory, said Clarkson.

'It just doesn't seem to correlate with that signing and agreement.'

And there was a 'disconnect' from Hamilton's open spaces plan which aims to enhance the city's green identity.

The latest report only focussed on the current values of the land as grazed pasture, and not its future potential.

'In other words, what would that land look like if we did what we have already done over large parts of the rest of the park? That's a major deficiency.'

Gallagher was 'deeply disappointed' in the recommendation and said it would be a 'devastating blow' to Waiwhakareke.

'If this is sold, this is a council that knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing,' said Gallagher.

'This will be a tragically short-sighted move and future generations will roundly condemn this stupid, short-sighted council.'

Councillor Dave Macpherson said it would be 'crazy' to sell the land but councillor Garry Mallett, who suggested the sale in 2014, was happy to see it come around again.

Family came ahead of 'bugs and slugs', he said.

'There is no reason why we can't derive housing - middle income-type housing - which is something the city desperately needs,' said Mallett.

The city was grateful to volunteers, he said but the larger $3m price tag would go a long way to paying down debt and reducing rates.

'Thank God we took our time.'