Media Release

Intense consultation with Far North communities starts this week (week beginning March 3) to help the Far North District Council shape plans for coastal access, open space and recreation.

Workshops start in the Eastern (Bay of Islands-Whangaroa) Community Board area this week and then move on to the Western (Kaikohe-Hokianga) and Northern (Te Hiku) Community Board areas throughout March.

When complete, the open space and coastal access strategy will give medium and long term direction for where, when and how the council will provide for public access to the coast, parks, reserves and other public open spaces. The reviewed recreation plans will provide a blueprint for meeting the medium and long term recreation and sport needs of Far North communities.

“It’s really important that people get involved in our consultation around this planning because whatever we come up with will determine what we do in the future,” says Operations Manager Sue Hodge. “We want to make sure that what we do is an accurate reflection of what our communities want.

“We need them to tell us what they think we should best do, with limited resources, to meet their needs regarding public land for sports, picnics, walking and other recreational activities and community facilities; for setting aside for the protection of natural areas; and for people to gain access to beaches and the coast.”

The workshops will give people the opportunity to talk in small groups about the issues they want addressed. Interested people who are unable to attend a meeting can instead fill out questionnaires available from www.fndc.govt.nz or from council service centres and libraries and return them by Friday April 4.

Further information about the workshops is available from the Recreation Manager, Vaughan Cruickshank, Phone 0800 920 029.

The Eastern ward workshop dates are:

For further information please contact:-

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Page created/updated: 26 February, 2008

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