Bay Harbour: April 25, 2018

PAGE 4 BAY HARBOUR
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Wednesday April 25 2018
News
Banks Peninsula may become geopark
•From page 1
UNESCO started developing
the idea of geoparks in 2001, with
the aim of showcasing landscapes
with outstanding geological
significance.
There are 127 geoparks in 35
countries worldwide, but none as
yet in New Zealand.
Banks Peninsula had some
unique geologic properties which
made it suitable for a geopark, Dr
Hampton said.
“From a satellite view, you can
see that the landscapes of the
volcano’s are very distinct with
the bays and harbours. We’ve got
a relatively recent geologic connection
to the mainland, ecologically
it’s been an island, so there’s
distinct flora and fauna that only
reside on Banks Peninsula.”
There were also different
cultural aspects in the way Maori
and European had colonised the
area, with pa sites and villages
still visible within the landscape,
as are various stages of European
settlement, from whaling to
forestry and farming.
“It’s about looking at Banks
Peninsula in archaeological slices
so you can go back in time and
look at the different levels of
CELEBRATED: Ireland’s cliffs of Moher are among 127 UNESCO geoparks worldwide.
the landscape and how it’s been
influenced.”
The Paihere Geopark Project
made a submission to UNESCO
this month, asking that the area
be considered for recognition.
It follows a recent move from
the New Zealand National Commission
for UNESCO to establish
a Global Geoparks programme
here.
Expressions of interest close at
the end of April, with shortlisted
applicants then invited to develop
NOTABLE: The bays and
harbours of Banks Peninsula,
which may become New
Zealand’s first geopark, were
formed after three massive
volcanic eruptions.
a full dossier.
Waitaki and “possibly Waitomo”
were looking at putting
submissions in as well, said Dr
Hampton.
Kaikoura had been mooted,
but he was unsure whether a submission
had been put forward.
Dr Hampton said Paihere
was runanga-driven and it was
“quite a unique thing” to have an
indigenous-backed proposal.
Scott Park revamp plan solves access issues
• By Sarla Donovan
NEW LANDSCAPE plans for
Scott Park are designed to make
it more accessible to the public.
The park’s layout has been criticised
for being poorly-designed
and appearing to block access to
the foreshore.
A working group, set up to
look at enhancing the park’s appeal
and usability, met to look at
draft concept drawings last week.
The group is comprised of representatives
from the Linwood-
Central-Heathcote Community
Board, Coastal Pathway Group,
Mt Pleasant Yacht Club and Canterbury
Windsports Association.
The draft drawings show a
reduced amount of bare gravel
and square angles, more defined
car parking and better provision
of space for people to stop and
picnic, with seating, tables and
provision of planting to provide
shelter from easterly winds. An
accessible ramp opposite the St
Andrews Hill pedestrian crossing
will lead down to the water
and to a pontoon below the
Ferrymead bridge. An extended
beach area will allow wind surfers
to launch more easily.
Working group member Tim
Lindley said the process was going
very well.
“At the start, there was sort
of a tension between watersport
users and people who wanted to
use the park for other activities.
But I’d have to say that the draft
design that’s been developed is
quite impressive,” he said.
“The plan is to give the public
good access around the waterfront
and invite them in, but at
the same time, doing it in ways
that they need to be cautious
because there’s watersports going
ACCESSIBLE: A new
landscape plan for Scott
Park is designed to give
better public access to the
foreshore. ​
on. So it meets both needs.”
The plan will have some minor
“tweaking” before going out for
public consultation, said Mr
Lindley.
That should happen within the
next few months, he said.
There is $150,000 in the Long
Term Plan for the work to take
place next year.
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