City Council votes to add land parcel to Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park

Friday, 19 February 2016

It was standing room only inside Hamilton City Council's debating chamber on Thursday as councillors voted to add 5.1 hectares to the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park.

Supporters of Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park are being urged not to get complacent following a council vote not to sell land bordering the park to developers.

Heritage park advocates and volunteers filled Hamilton City Council's debating chamber on Thursday as elected members voted 11 to two in favour of adding a 5.1 hectare block to the park.

Green lines mark the 5.1 hectare parcel that will be added to the neighbouring Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park.

The vote went against council staff advice, which recommended the land be sold for residential development and the proceeds used to repay city debt.

The land has an estimated market value of $3.1 million and could accommodate 63 houses.

The land was originally purchased by the council in 1975.

In September 2013, a month before the local body elections, council resolved to put the land into reserve title and include it in the heritage park.

That decision was reversed by the new council in May 2014.

Thursday's vote by council's finance committee was met with applause from the public gallery, but prompted a note of caution from Waiwhakareke Advisory Group chairman and restoration ecology Professor Bruce Clarkson.

Councillors' decision not to sell the land bordering the park is 'extremely encouraging', but the push to have the land declared a reserve is not over, Clarkson said.

'We have to keep coming back and take every meeting just as seriously,' he said.

'We can't afford to take anything for granted.'

The committee's decision has to be ratified by the full council.

The council will then have to follow a Reserves Act process, which could take four months to complete.

Clarkson said Waiwhakareke is a project of international importance and the council debate over whether to sell the 5.1ha parcel is being closely watched.

'This debate is seen as the classic example of the type of difficulties a community faces when they try and complete a long-term project against the backdrop of three-year election cycles,' he said.

'Green space projects, ecological projects, are intergenerational, but if you look at what we've achieved in 10 years, it's just remarkable.'

Waiwhakareke is New Zealand's largest inland restoration project.

Councillors Garry Mallett and Andrew King voted against adding the 5.1ha block to the heritage park.

Mallett labelled the motion an 'abomination' and appeared to intentionally mock members of the public gallery.

Included in the audience was former city councillor Daphne Bell, current and past Waikato University staff, and John Mortimer who, together with wife Bunny, gifted Taitua Arboretum to the city.

'I know it's very easy for the people at the back of the room to say it [sale proposal] is all about money, but sadly, money does matter,' Mallett said.

'Money matters - matters big time - and it's a little infantile to pretend it does not.'

Mallett rejected suggestions building homes on the land would damage the adjacent park.

However, if any damage did occur, it would be grossly outweighed by the value of providing 60 houses to families.

'Unlike the people at the back [of the room], I actually respect human beings,' Mallett said, prompting groans from the public.

'Look at you, look at you, you're so easy to bait,' he said.

'The only reason I tolerate bugs and slugs and green grass and trees is because they add value to humans. To the extent they don't add value to humans, they are no value to me.'

Deputy Mayor Gordon Chesterman said Waiwhakareke is a long-term project and has the same significance as Hamilton Gardens.

Hamilton Gardens started life as the city's rubbish dump, but thanks to voluntary work and council investment is now regarded as one of the world's best gardens.

Councillor Angela O'Leary said the city's green spaces make Hamilton a desirable place to live.

'I know we're a growing city, but really, I don't think the sky is going to fall if we don't have 63 extra houses,' she said.

Mallett put forward an unsuccessful amendment that recommended the parcel be sold at a price 'no less than 10 per cent of the estimated current value'.

However, he changed the amendment after it was pointed out by councillors and staff that the wording meant the land could be sold for as little as $300,000.

'I guess I sucked a big fat kumara there,' Mallett said.

The reworked amendment was voted down.