AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

15 December 2006

Council endorses draft Maungawhau Mt Eden management plan

Auckland City Council last night endorsed the draft Maungawhau Mt Eden management plan following nearly two years of public consultation and refinement.

“We have worked long and hard to make sure this plan will work for the long-term benefit of both the mountain and the visitors to it,” says Mayor Dick Hubbard.

“Arguably, the most significant change resulting from the draft management plan is the intention to move towards restricting vehicle access to the summit and encouraging pedestrian access. The restriction on vehicle access will be enforced once a sustainable, low impact transport system is in place to enable access for elderly and disabled people, and those who choose not to walk,” he says.

Over the coming months, the city is developing an action plan which will detail some transport system and visitor’s centre options. This is likely to be considered by council in mid 2007.

“Any alternative transport option would need to be sustainable, and have a minimal impact on the mountain’s archaeology, open-space and heritage values. It must also demonstrate leading edge innovation for visitor management of this world-class heritage site,” says Environment, Heritage and Urban Form Committee chairperson, Councillor Christine Caughey.

“Maungawhau is a very special place for Aucklanders and the council is committed to managing it in a way that makes this clear to visitors, and keeps it so for future generations of Aucklanders to enjoy,” says Ms Caughey.

The draft plan also outlines the council’s intention to improve the management of Maungawhau Mt Eden by:

• better communicating the stories and features of the site to visitors
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• better presenting and conserving the heritage, archaeological and cultural aspects of the site
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• improving and ensuring better maintenance of the track network
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• developing and enacting a plan to gradually change vegetation management practices on the mountain, including the eventual removal of grazing.
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“The programme of work is guided by the draft management plan. It does not provide a quick fix. Rather it is a considered as a step towards changing the long-term management of Maungawhau Mt Eden, to ensure it is easily recognised as the cultural, geological and heritage wonder that we know it is,” says Ms Caughey.

The draft plan will now be forwarded to the minister of conservation for final approval. It will then become the operational management plan.

Ends

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