On Monday 1st March, an Environment Court hearing regarding the Owhiro Bay Quarry land is being held in Wellington, 10 years to the day since the controversial coastal quarry was closed and became a public park area.

The stopping of quarrying on Wellington's precious South Coast and the creation of the new coastal park have been described as one of the South Coast community's greatest achievements. Many groups and individuals were involved in the long campaign (led by the Southern Environmental Association) during the 1990s which resulted in the creation of the coastal park.

Monday 1 March 2010 is EXACTLY 10 years since (at the community's request) Wellington City Council paid for the land, and the land became a public park, on 29th February 2000.

Coincidentally this 10th Anniversary will be the occasion for a Court hearing to decide whether part of the former quarry (purchased from the Council's Reserves Acquisitions Fund) should be rezoned to provide for a residential housing area.

SEA Chair June Epsom says "We, Action For Environment Inc, and the Owhiro Bay and Island Bay Residents' Assocations are arguing in the Court that an area of Rural zoned land immediately inside the entrance to Owhiro Bay Quarry (located between the gate and the visitor centre) should be rezoned as Open Space B to ensure that it remains an open space.

The Council's own staff advised the Council in 2005 and 2006 that this land forms part of the car park area and has medium to high landscape values. The staff advised that if residential development was allowed then the entrance to the reserve would be reduced not only in size but also in sense of place."

"The City Council will be arguing in the Court that the land should be zoned as Outer Residential zone. According to the Council's expert witnesses, this would allow up to 4 two-storey houses or a multiunit development on the land, overlooking the hugely popular new public car park for the reserve and the award winning visitor information centre.

Under the Council's proposals for the land, developers would be able to remove the bottom 5 metres of the precious coastal escarpment on the site by obtaining a resource consent (see what developers have also recently done to the escarpment at 170 Owhiro Bay Parade!).

Potential natural habitat for the korora (little blue penguins) observed on the site during 2009 would be lost. The developers would be able to build their walls and houses right up to the front boundaries close to the public walkway. We are most concerned about these proposals."

"We are hoping that all the issues will be able to be carefully considered by the Environment Court this week, and that ultimately the community's vision of open space for this coastal site will be realised."