Park-buyers race to beat developers

Nearly $60 million has been spent in an expansive phase for the Auckland regional parks network, and a falling property market means the ARC cheque book will be kept handy.

The regional council is racing against time to preserve open green space for public use before it is developer bait, said ARC parks chairman Sandra Coney.

"The council is aware that if there ever was a time to buy, it's now," she said.

"We can't leave any greater legacy for future generations than more parks. A variety of landscapes and beaches is protected from being gobbled up by insane development."

Ms Coney said buying park land - mostly with loans on 50-year terms - was fully backed by the council and its chairman Mike Lee, and also won high public approval.

"Parks surveys show it's the one thing people don't seem to have a problem with spending rates on ... they enjoy them and see the result of their rates."

Between 1998 and mid-2005, the council spent $27.7 million on increasing the size of the popular Wenderholm and Long Bay parks and taking the network beyond 16 parks.

To read the full NZ Herald article click here

Posted: 13 Jan 2009

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