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24 Huitānguru 2018
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HCC may have Heritage Trail highlights our history rights over private property in proposed plan change by Carl McRae Three hundred Eastern Bays property owners could be affected by a proposed District Plan change that may see areas of their land deemed “Significant Natural Areas” (SNAs). A letter from Hutt City Council senior environmental policy analyst, Joe Jeffries, advises residents who own land that borders East Harbour Regional Park that the council is in the process of identifying sectors of “significant indigenous biodiversity” and is considering how best to protect and manage these areas. The letter quotes the council’s obligations under the Resource Management Act and says the framework is likely to include rules and restrictions in the District Plan, with a ‘sweetener’- a range of incentives and support for landowners on whose land significant features are identified. HCC head of district planning Drew Cumming says the properties were identified after initial assessment, but a group of affected ratepayers who met on Tuesday night said the assessessment had been done by “drive bys” and online mapping. “Importantly,” Mr Cumming said, “council believes there is a moral responsibility here. New Zealand’s indigenous biodiversity is under serious threat, with many species threatened or in decline. Significant habitats still remain and it is
The Eastbourne Heritage Trail was opened last weekend, featuring information boards throughout Eastbourne. Pictured are Ali Carew George Tuffin, Ginny Horrocks, Dennis Davidson, Margaret Wilson (whose husband took the 1968 photo of the Wahine lifeboat on the beach, with Margaret standing beside it); Alan Collins (Eastbourne’s longest-serving resident, who officially unveiled the display); Murray Gibbons, Mayor Ray Wallace, and Mark Rutherford. Photo: Phil Benge. See story, page 2
important that this natural heritage is protected for current and future generations.” Will Bearman, whose York Bay property is one of those that would fall within the proposed plan change, told a meeting of more than thirty affected land owners that people who wanted to develop their land, "build a second house for their retirement" should ask council planners what the implications of future constraints would be on development. “This will erode our property rights,” he said. “It’s restricting development with little or no compensation.” Eastbourne Community Board chair Ginny
Horrocks who was at the meeting with ECB member Anna Sutherland said she only found out about the letter last week when she was approached by a Days Bay resident. “The ECB still hasn’t been told.” Mr Bearman asserted that “90 percent” of community board members supported the plan. “I know where your alliances lie,” he told Ginny. “You have no idea where our alliances lie on this,” she responded. She agreed with those present that they all needed more information from council officers about the plan, and said that last year the board had opposed a plan to Continues Page 3