Mutukaroa Hamlins Hill management plan

Contents | Foreword | Introduction | Statutory framework | Council framework | History | Current resources - enhancement and development opportunities | Management objectives and policies | Implementation

Foreword

Mutukaroa-Hamlins Hill occupies 48 hectares of land between Sylvia Park Road, Great South Road and the southern motorway and is jointly owned by Auckland City Council and the Crown. The reserve is not widely used at present due in part to public perception of the land being in private ownership, created in the past by the reserve's relative inaccessibility, adjacent industrial land uses, lack of facilities or amenities and low public profile. There has also been a lack of signage and promotional material produced. Other issues in respect to the hill that need to be addressed include access; recreational use; noise, odour and visual pollution; public safety; vegetative cover; and the future status and tenure of the Crown owned land.

This management plan for Mutukaroa-Hamlins Hill seeks to resolve these issues and outlines the general intentions for use, development, maintenance, protection and preservation of the reserve. It outlines a clear set of management objectives to assist in the effective day-to-day management and long term development of the reserve.

Section 1 – Introduction gives a brief overview of Mutukaroa-Hamlins Hill and its relevance today.

Section 2 – Statutory framework outlines general introductory information in respect to the function of management plans, the management planning process and the statutory requirements.

Section 3 – Council framework covers the relevant council documents that influence the management of Mutukaroa-Hamlins Hill.

Section 4 – History covers the Maori and European history of the hill and its importance today.

Section 5 – Current resources: enhancement and development opportunities outlines both the existing situation, in terms of the physical attributes of the reserve and the processes and issues affecting it, and highlights potential enhancement and development opportunities. This section sets the scene and provides the background explanatory information for the objectives and policies section.

Section 6 – Management objectives and policies contains the vision for Mutukaroa-Hamlins Hill and outlines individual objectives and policies relating to the day-to-day management of the reserve. A series of defined objectives has been produced to guide the management, development and use of Mutukaroa-Hamlins Hill. The objectives address the significant management issues and convey the general use and development philosophy for the reserve. The policies address the objectives and aim to create achievable approaches and solutions to the management goals.

Implementation of the objectives contained within the management plan is carried out in part through the preparation of a Development Plan which outlines the design intent for the reserve and depicts the overall site layout and proposed use of Mutukaroa-Hamlins Hill. The plan is prepared through consultation with user groups and the public. Paths and pedestrian access tracks; car parking; recreational areas; extent of grassed and planted areas are included within the plan which enables development of the reserve to proceed as and when funds are available.

This management plan also advocates that a Vegetation Management Regime be prepared to determine the future development, intensity, provision and management of the vegetation within Mutukaroa-Hamlins Hill.