Access to Highams Beach under scrutiny

PUBLIC ACCESS: Highams Beach, inset, is one of only two points on the South Kaipara Peninsula with vehicle access making boat launching possible.

PUBLIC ACCESS: Highams Beach, inset, is one of only two points on the South Kaipara Peninsula with vehicle access making boat launching possible.

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Hearings on the future ownership of the Higham paper road were held at the Helensville Memorial Hall on Thursday, August 12.

The infrastructure and environment committee of the Rodney District Council had proposed to stop the public road – which gives four-wheel-drive beach access to the Kaipara Harbour – in exchange for swamp and mangrove access.

The proposal caused an outcry in the boating community.

The paper road would take around $50,000 to develop to walkway standard while the mangrove easement will cost between $212,000 and $552,000 to develop.

Developing a road through the nearby regional park would cost about $1 million.

The district council entered into a confidential agreement with the Higham family in 2008 to remove the paper road which runs through the Higham family property to a sandy beach on the Kaipara Harbour where boats can be launched.

The easement it may be exchanged for also gives access to the harbour but is an intertidal wetland from which boat access is not feasible.

The Highams have developed a camp at the beach which they allow some church and community groups and schools to use.

Security issues for the campers were cited as one of the reasons to close the paper road.

The council received 27 submissions in support of the proposal and 177 opposing the closure.

The Auckland Regional Council opposed the proposal saying public access on to the Kaipara is already limited and the proposal would not only reduce public access to the harbour but stop access to the boat ramp completely.

It would also be contrary to various plans and statements including the New Zealand Coastal Policy and the Resource Management Act, their report says.

The regional council says under the draft regional park management plan for Te Rua Puriri Regional Park there are no plans to develop additional access through the park within the next 10 years.

But western ward councillor Suzanne Weld says closure of the Higham paper road has only become an issue because the "ARC has reneged on the agreement to develop the park" which the Rodney District Council helped purchase with a contribution of $800,000.

"They seem to have a change of philosophy with regards to the development of the park" she says.

"There is no mention of an access road on the agreement relating to the purchase of the park,`" says Rodney regional council representative Christine Rose, although specific mention was made of provision for walking access and camping.

"The property was bought with a focus on walking, cycling and horse riding access in the shorter term.

"A concept or development framework needs to be prepared in consultation with the community and iwi before we did any significant work there.

"Due to the park's usage, the cost of construction and the fact we bought the park for long term interests, we have no plans to develop vehicle access until necessary, most likely beyond the 10-year horizon," Mrs Rose says.

"It's great that the Highams have allowed the campground to be used for many children for so many years, and this benefit is well recognised. It is critical that the campground can continue safely, while still allowing public access.

"I believe that the two can be mutually accommodated as a matter of public interest- rather than foreclosing opportunities now.

"This would also remove the cost of any possible Environment Court involvement" Mrs Rose says.

- © Fairfax NZ News