Open Letter to the Mayor and Councillors of North Shore City:

 

Dear Councillor

 

                THREE STREAMS - KAURI GROVE - SERENITY RESERVE

  Three adjoining areas 1km from the centre of Albany village on SH17 and The Avenue

 

DESCRIPTION

 

  Three Streams, owned and landscaped by me from 1969 , was previously a pine

plantation and poultry farm; it was gifted to North Shore City in 2004.  Kauri Grove

was acquired by Council from the Hobson property development in 1996. Serenity

Reserve was retained by Council to facilitate a walkway link from the rapidly growing

residential and commercial development on the Avenue into Three Streams.

 

The only vehicular access is from 343 SH17 into Three Streams.  A 1/2km concrete

driveway winds through ThreeStreams across the main stream culvert up to my

home and the gardens I still maintain in both Three Streams and Kauri Grove. 

Tree lined walkways lead off the drive.

 

Three Streams, which has several natural landscape features, was designated a Private

Scenic Reserve by the Minister for Lands in 1974, and received the first Auckland Regional

Council Environmental Award for Stewardship in 2000.   In 1990 I received the Queen's Commemorative Medal for services to the Environment.

 

A vigorous Friends of Three Streams and Kauri Grove, including residents of other

suburbs, was Incorporated in 2002, and obtained outside funding for improvements.

This activity ceased shortly after Council commenced managing the property, and

can only be revived with Council support. It's revival is essential to achieve the

objective of an environmental education centre.

 

            FUNDING FOR THREE STREAMS/KAURI GROVE DEVELOPMENT

 

Since North Shore City Council acquired Three Streams in 2005, adding to the adjoining Kauri Grove Reserve, a Botanical Survey, Management Plan and Development Plan have been completed. However the Council’s Annual Plan has not yet provided funding for the Development programme and only maintenance has come from the Parks Department’s budget.

 

Albany's rapidly growing population  and its commercial and educational facilities have created demand for equivalent, accessible natural open space and ecological features, for which these Reserves are ideally suited and located. 

 

Planned lakeside facilities to be in conjunction with the commercial and cultural centre of Albany meet a separate community need. The recent acquisition by Council of another bush reserve between Three Streams and Albany Heights completes the protection of the hillside and the City’s boundary with Rodney.

 

Until recently, two other properties close to the village centre offered some attractions similar to Three Streams.

These were the Outdoor Education Centre on the old Albany Highway, which is now the site of the new Secondary school and the old Centrepoint property across from the Stadium, which Council expressed an interest in acquiring but which is now owned by the Wellpark Trust for appropriate purposes.

 

With these properties no longer available, the way is clear for the City Council to focus on more rapid progress with the Development Plan for Three Streams/Kauri Grove, ensuring that the Albany community has appropriate  outdoor facilities and that the heritage and educational features of these reserves are protected and enhanced.

 

The Southern and Eastern suburbs of North Shore are well catered for, with coastal reserves –now with the Chelsea estate added, - beaches and such special features as Fernglen. Kaipatiki, and Centennial Park.   Until recent years the Northern boundary sector has been ‘greenfields’, the Albany hill ‘bush’. The time has come to fund the infrastructure which will service visitors of all ages who seek the natural outdoor experience.   

 

Sincerely yours,

 

John Hogan  

 

John H Hogan - Three Streams 343 Highway 17, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand ph +64 9 415 9336  jhogan@clear.net.nz               http://www.threestreams.org.nz

      TO WELL WISHERS-

 

You will have received a copy of my Open Letter to the Mayor and Councillors of

North Shore City dated March 16th.

 

This is a simple, up-to-date summary of  facts, not intended as a complaint nor a

demand. It is hoped that this will assist Councillors- very few of whom have ever

seen the properties concerned-  when considering the Annual Plan and Budget.

 

Councillors also need to know the extent of ratepayers' interest in the proposed

developments. Obviously those resident or in business in the Albany area have

a direct interest. But such easily accessed facilities, especially when environmental

and educational,  are of benefit to many more people, and their cost affects all of the

City's ratepayers.

 

So it will help us all if the facts are widely known, which is not easily achieved.

 

If you wish to assist, would you please forward copies of the Report to your North

Shore friends and associates.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

John Hogan