What the report says

Press, 4 November 1978, Page 16

What the report says

The report’s main sections talk about specific things that couid be done to balance recreational and protection needs of the peninsula: Lyttelton Harbour. For Christchurch residents staying close to the city, the build-up of homes around this harbour has become obvious.

“In places, their impact is softened by vegetation,” the report says of houses from Church to Charteris bays, “while in others they form a very obtrustive detraction from the over-ail quality of the natural landscape.”

Future settlements would have to be confined, not allowed "to

spill over on to enclosing ridges and promontories.” Mudflats at the bead of

the harbour made recreation and residential use less attractive.

“Other problems arise from permanent and holiday homes restricting access to some beaches, boatsheds cluttering the shoreline, and poor quality road and foot access to the beaches beyond Purau.” Disadvantages of some areas meant that pressures were directed to certain parts of the harbour. More public picnic and swimming opportunities should be provided to counter the growth of holiday houses. Rapaki beach' should be planned to supplement the Corsair Bay swimming beach.

Further east, Mansons Point and Moepuku Peninsula “shnuM

for future all-the-year-round picnic and walking areas, “uncluttered by development for both access and visual considerations.”

At Hays Bay, the development of picnic areas would relieve demands on Charteris Bay. That would require formation of a, beach use area, and legal road access.

At Shelly Bay, a scenic cove accessible by foot, baches have been bunched in a stockade-like arrangement that resembles a colonial outpost. The beach is open to the public, but appears to be the exclusive domain- of the bach owners. “People are put off if they think it is a private beach,” Mr Suggate says. thp Shellv

Bay beaches should be removed, the report says. At least, they should not be replaced when their useful life ends. The walking track to Little Port Cooper should be legalised. But that area lacks supervision to prevent vandalism, fire, and litter. Port Levy-Pigeon Bay. Beaches in- this part of the peninsula are mainly stony, and recreation opportunities are limited. But there will be more pressures because road access is being improved. This area’s future could be primarily some holiday house development and boating. Eastern Bays.— Camping is already restricted at Okains Bay because of the limited water supply, and the 40 sites are booked well ahead of the holiday season. Le Bons Bay has a holiday cottage settlement, and both Little Akaloa and Okains have day facilities. Holiday houses at Okains have generally been resisted, “and this provides an excellent opportunity to cater permanently for other recreational users without conflict.” Because not many day visitors used Le Bons and Little Akaloa, it was possible that further holiday houses could be placed there. Access was difficult to Raupo and Lavericks bays. The entire coastline in this area seemed a good place for coastal walking. Soul h-eastern Bays: “The presence of a number of high quality, safe coastal beaches in the adjoining Eastern Bays sector makes it unnecessary to open this sector up at this time,” the report says, “and it can therefore be reserved for future generations to take the initiative.”

Most of the bays arc sparsely used. At Otanerito Bay, the landowner permits some day visitors to use the good beach, and there is some informal camping with his permission. This part of the coastline should remain undisturbed, at least for the time being, apart from legalising access in some cases.” Akaroa Harbour: In spite of its popularity and the scenery, there are “few good sandy beaches for swimming and sunbathing.” the report says. Because Wainui was such an exception. overcrowding was inevitable. Some undeveloped beaches, such as at Armstrong Point and Petit Carenage Bay, could be developed for picnics and swimming. “Protection of the un-. developed bays from holi-. day home development is ' necessary so that their full potential for day trippers can be realised.” If ~ the need was there, some' small clusters of holiday houses “tucked into the valleys and, with some care, around existing communities, may do little « harm.” Southern Bays: Development potential exists at Peraki, Te Oka and Tumbledown bays, “being somewhat less bleak and barren than the others,” the report says. Problems of isolation were heightened because • there was little settlement in the area. “This is a strong reason for not ‘ encouraging greater use of these bays at the presenttime. and retaining a low standard of access.” But the coastline from -,- Magnet Bay to Birdlings Flat could be a good place , for walking tracks.