Sale of Farm Cottages in Long Bay Regional Park
 
You may have recently noticed ‘For Sale’ notices put up inside the Long Bay Regional Park. The owners of this part of the Long Bay development, Templetons, have placed two farm cottages on the market. These cottages are located within the Park’s nationally significant heritage area and are very visible to users enjoying the Park and beach. The Society is concerned that it may be difficult to control what a private owner may seek to do with the property and any redevelopment of the cottages has the potential to have a devastating impact on the heritage and visual values of the Park.
 
With this in mind, the Society has submitted to Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan requesting that Council acquire the houses and is in discussion with Council regarding the acquisition. The red barn has already been transferred to the Park and, with the two cottages, they could become a centre for educational forums, workshops, meetings etc. We hope for success and will let you know the outcome.

AGM 23 May 2021, 2pm

Sir Peter Blake Marine Education & Recreation Centre 
1045 Beach Road, Long Bay
 
Come and listen to MERC’s outdoor and marine educator Sara Kulins, who is currently doing masters research on our Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve at the University of Auckland. She will talk about her findings, followed by question time. We envisage a lively discussion.

Further information about Sara https://ispeakforthesea.com


Park Weekend Weeders 
 
The Society has now held two weeding days, and we plan to hold monthly working bees throughout the winter. At our previous weeding day last Sunday we made very good progress concentrating on clearing around the trees planted last year to help make sure they continue to grow fit and healthy.
 
We are grateful that Eurika Enterprises, Browns Bay have donated some very useful tools that make what is sometimes a difficult job much easier. We now have long- and short-handled niwashis and garden sharks, which are particularly good for the wetland weeds.
 
Next month on May 16, Auckland Council will run the Long Bay Regional Park Planting Day and we invite you to come along and plant some trees. The Council needs lots of volunteers to help run the day, so if you would like to help out let me know.
Elaine 021 246 5872

Penlink Construction and the Long Bay Okura Marine Reserve
 
The Society is in continued discussion with Waka Kotahi NZTA regarding the Penlink road and bridge structure that will connect the motorway from just south of the BP garage on SH1 with Whangaparāoa peninsula. Construction is scheduled to start late this year.

The Society’s discussion centres around ensuring that the work be completed with as little impact on the Long Bay Okura Marine Reserve as possible. At present we are focused on making sure marine monitoring is done in the most accurate and robust way. Our discussions with Waka Kotahi are ongoing and we will keep you updated on our progress.