Lucas Creek North Shore identified for Parkland purchase

Today, at the ARC Parks and Heritage Committee, it was decided that the ctte should recommend to the new Auckland Council, that it should identify land along the shoreline of Lucas Creek for acquisition. The Chair - Sandra Coney - noted that Lucas Creek is part of the North Western Wildlink, and that it has particularly high visual amenity. She also noted that a benefit of the integrated approach that the new Auckland Council could take in respect of parkland purchases, is that it can join up the gaps that exist between smaller local urban parks, and the broader regional parks.

The report to the committee had noted:

"...to date, the acquisition of Lucas Creek as part of the regional parks networks has not been considered an explicit priority and in the current goevrnance environment it is more appropriate for consideration as part of the local park network. It is therefore not recommended that the ARC pursue this any further at this time. However, if presented as part of a greater harbour side park network with accessible water based linkages to other parks at North Shore and Auckland cities, Lucas Creek could become an integral part of realising a greater regional vision for open space, therefore elevating its status to one of regional significance. It will therefore be noted as an area to keep a watching brief on as we transition to a new Auckland Council..."

The report noted the degradation that has occurred in Lucas Creek in the years following developments in Albany and Upper Harbour. The degradation is typical of other creeks and streams in the Auckland region where runoff and sedimentation has severely affected both the ecological qualities and amenity of those natural water courses.

I note the rapid emergence and expansion of kayaking, canoeing, rowing and other water-based sports and recreation activities in the Auckland Region. There are plans for a Kayak Trail in the Southern Hauraki Gulf in the vicinity of Waitawa Regional Park and South Waiheke. There is equal opportunity to join up the harbour park thinking between upper North Shore City (including Lucas Creek), with the new developments at Hobsonville Airbase (including the proposed Bomb Point park), and with Herald Island.

Also on the Parks & Heritage agenda was an item from ARPASS (Auckland Regional Physical Activity and Sports Strategy), setting out the ARPASS Sports Facility Strategy. In terms of water sports, this strategy identifies Lake Pupuke as the top regional facility in Auckland for canoeing - both for training and for competition. This is another opportunity for North Shore. Interestingly, the ARPASS strategy also indentifies Lake Pupuke for regional waka ama events. These are typically 300m to 1500m waka sprints, but can also include endurance events up to 30 km!