The 508 page draft Regional Parks Management Plan prepared by Auckland Council is currently open for public submissions, until this Friday, 4 March 2022. FMC has written a submission, which is available here for clubs to review and follow or support with their own submissions.
Key points in the FMC submission are:
1. It is critical that all regional parks have strong recreation stakeholders to represent the wide range of recreation users of the parks. It is proposed that both FMC and Friends of Regional Parks are added as a key stakeholder for each park, and for some specific proposed recreation reviews for the Waitākere and Hūnua Regional Parks.
2. There are a number of proposals aimed at managing congested tracks, including one way tracks, track charges, and for new tracks favouring loop tracks over through walks. We disagree with these proposals, arguing that congested tracks indicate a high urgency for additional tracks to better spread the number of people who are keen for outdoor experiences in our parks. Before track closures the number and variety of tracks available did a great job of spreading the high volume of park users.
3. The absence of an overall regional park strategic assessment of current and future needs of the Auckland region.
4. The need to move past lip service to active measures to reduce the carbon emissions of all park activities.
5. The absence in the RPMP of firm, funded and prioritised commitments to achieve all the nice-to-have intentions so well enumerated in the document.
6. A need for Auckland Council to be communicating with park users on a regular basis, rather than just via an annual report and one on one contacts with Auckland Council staff.
7. No legal roads, formed or unformed, should be closed.
More detailed information is available on the Auckland Tramping Club website.
FMC encourages clubs with an interest in these issues to consider submitting. A short explanation of who you are, why you’re interested then an endorsement of FMC’s submission is a helpful contribution. Read our submissions resource on Wilderlife to learn why and see examples. Also, it provides tips & tactics when writing your own detailed submissions. The more we can show the managers that we are interested and have a stake in these issues, the more weight our collective voice carries. For more info on this submission or the submission process, please contact FMC Exec member Tony Walton tony.walton@fmc.org.nz.
Photo at top: View from Te Muri Regional Park looking across the Puhoi River mouth to Wenderholm Regional Park, Auckland. Photo (c) Tony Walton
