Brian Anderson The Western Front www.sunlive.co.nz

The plan released this week for the development of a Bowentown beachfront complex is a local initiative which includes a marina, retail area, supermarket and a school.

It has come from frustration with the lack of development around Waihi Beach and Athenree. The design has opened up a wide discussion on the need for an overall plan for the whole of the Northern Harbour subregion, including Katikati, Athenree and Waihi Beach.

In 1951, Waihi Beach and Mount Maunganui were very similar, equivalent little holiday towns. When suitable roads went in and when the bridge was built, the Mount developed into the centre it is today, but Waihi Beach has not been allowed to develop. The frustration spilled over a couple of years ago when residents appealed to local government to have Waihi Beach leave Western Bay and restore links with Waihi and the Hauraki District.
The request was denied, but the Commission believed the problems noted were the result of poor communications between Waihi Beach and the WBOPD Council and that these problems would have to be addressed.

One element of the Bowentown plan, a causeway, has excited many locals. The whole Athenree Waihi Beach, Bowentown area has developed, but in an unconnected way. Athenree Heights, a prime residential area and Athenree have no shops at all. Appeals have been made in many submissions for planning to allow Waihi Beach to develop as a proper town.

Currently it is still the ‘holiday bach' town it was 60 years ago. The surrounding area of Athenree back to the State Highway is now recognised as the site of one of only two Irish Colonies in the world and is probably more well known in Ireland than it is in the Bay of Plenty.

The proposed causeway between Pio Shores and Athenree changes the whole roading structure of the area. It will provide Athenree residents with two minute access to a shopping centre and effectively link Bowentown directly to the State Highway. All points between these areas would now be open for development. Currently, the area is a Lego kitset for a small city and, whether by design or not, the whole concept is a huge opportunity for Western Bay planners to include local people with local solutions in their planning.

Unfortunately, Western Bay and its planning is almost a closed shop. The Matakana Whole of Island Plan, has been negotiated in secret for 10 years. It is now subject to Environment Court instructions with deadlines to be met this year but, as yet, no information is available to the public.

The latest Western Bay long-term planning has maps of the whole district indicating growth areas, but the maps again do not include Waihi Beach or any area North of Kauri Point. Under the new requirements of the government for spatial planning, councils should now be working with the public to empower people rather than to regulate them. We will soon see if the council is going to try to protect its secret regulatory planning practices or if is willing to move with the times and work with the people. They cannot ignore the Bowentown project and the implications for the Northern Harbour. The word is going around and people are expecting some form of open and transparent planning for the area. We are waiting.