Patumahoe Hill – What do you prefer?

Option 1

A volcano summit area with almost no views and long term none

Option 2

A volcano summit area with 360 degree views forever for all to enjoy. Views to almost all of Auckland’s other volcanoes and other significant local landmark features

Patumahoe Hill Background

Patumahoe Hill is one of Auckland’s volcanoes. It has been privately owned for close to 150 years. Few people have stood on the summit to admire the views. The views are compromised to some extent with a house located close to the summit and 2 other buildings. Interestingly in the old Auckland City Boundary all volcano summits have been protected by legislation since 1915. Typical councillor and planner comments in Auckland are:

“Without our volcanic cones, and our views of them, Auckland becomes just much more like any other city in the world. These are the single geographic feature that sets us apart and makes us special.“

There are now moves within AC, led by Roger Blakely, to have Auckland’s Volcano’s recognised as a Unesco Heritage site

The proposed subdivision includes a 20m buffer zone passing over the summit area with potential for public access. New houses close to the summit combined with their fences and plantings will block any potential views forever for half the potential viewing area.

PVI – Collaborative Approach

PVI has taken a collaborative approach with the process of putting forward the mound

proposal. It was presented at the Proposed Plan Change hearing a few months ago in

a less developed format than the enclosed. We were not seeking to reduce the

number of proposed titles with the development – simply looking to enhance some of

the significant features of the volcano. The hearing concluded that while they liked

the concept they would not be enforcing any mound conditions with the plan change

with their view that there was opportunity to do this at the next stage.

While we did not agree with the view and felt there was sufficient evidence to appeal

we chose not to, so as to continue to work collaboratively and understand all views

from the likes of land owners, Auckland Council, Local Iwi and the community. The

proposal now is at a stage where we believe it is important to gain feedback to see if

there is wide support for enhancing the summit with a viewing area or if the

community is happy to accept the development as proposed.

The Proposed Patumahoe Hill New Look

The new look will have one of Auckland’s volcano’s with a totally contrived and unnatural look.

•The volcano will be split down the middle with a housing development on one side and cropping land on the other

•All aspects of significance in relation to the summit will be further compromised.

Why not create a Mound - Great Idea!

• The summit area is already compromised with

existing buildings and now is about to be

compromised further. The opportunity to

enhance the summit area with a mound to

restore views has been overlooked by the plan

change process in our opinion.

Window of Opportunity

Here Now

Not Yesterday Not Tomorrow

For 150 years there has been no public access to the summit. A window of opportunity is here to not only include public access to the summit but also include an earth mound at the time of subdivision. This will provide a 360 degree view forever for all to enjoy.

Once the subdivision is complete this window of opportunity is gone forever. A simple low impact, low maintenance, low cost, earth mound will not be possible.

A Potential ‘Mound’ View from Patumahoe Hill. (NorthWest)This is from a height of just 4.2m above the current highest point on the 20m wide

buffer zone.

Awhitu Peninsula Manukau Harbour Auckland City

Another great view (North East)Looking over Patumahoe Village

HunuasPapakura

Pukekohe in the distance.

Pukekohe Hill Nearby volcano

To the South West – Whakaupoko Note that if the mound was made 1 or 2 metres higher then the view to the West would be

above the existing house on the summit. (2m higher equates to around 3,000m3 extra soil)

Port Waikato Whakaupoko

Mound Concept 1 (Local Landscape Architect Amy Hobbs)

Mound Concept 2 (in slightly different location)

Summit Viewing Mound ConceptOrange Viewing area contained by eg rock wall

Light green 5m wide flat area, no access, low ground covers

Dark Green Mound sloping away from summit. Gentle slope along entry and exit

summit paths, 45 degrees on other sides. Low growing plants.

View from North West showing superimposed

mound and 45 degree slopes.

View from North showing more gentle slope of

mound along walking path

Cape Reinga Viewing area example.

Low maintenance rock wall

Another view from Cape ReingaPatumahoe Hill could have rocks from other surrounding volcanoes positioned on the wall and

labelled in the correct line of sight for example.

Patumahoe Hill – Summit View Restoration

Mound Option

Idea

Build a 5 – 7m high mound close to the summit so that there are close to 360 degree views protected forever.

•Views to other volcanoes in the Auckland region.

•Views to the local region and distant horizons

•Views connecting local significant Pa sites.

•Views are protected in all directions even in the event of further subdivision activity on the other side of the volcano.

Mound Detail

• 3,000 – 7,000m3 depending on height, width and slope of walking track

• Ideally 1:12 slope = 7 degrees = high access for all including mobility standard path

• Side slopes 45 degrees

• Ground cover species around summit and taller species as get lower to permit view outwards with 0 - minimal maintenance

Patumahoe Hill Significance

The current proposal further degrades all aspects of significance. The mound proposal potentially enhances some of the below

1.It is one of Auckland’s volcanoes – right here on our doorstep

2.It is a significant visual amenity reflecting a rural character. This is when viewed from below. This feature will be lost and replaced by an upward view to houses with both options.

3.It has ecological significance being a high point and line of sight with all volcanic summits is seen as desirable in Auckland. This extreme significance is further enhanced with the summit located just 300m from the Village central area.

4.It has historical cultural significance to Maori as the centre of what was once a Native Reserve area of 700 acres that was confiscated in 1863. This land now makes up the Village of Patumahoe.

What extra is needed to make this

simple idea happen?

• A simple pile of earth. At the time of subdivision earthworks, surplus soil needs to be located somewhere – why not on the summit area.

• Resource Consent. This would be required for the mound as it is over 1.5m in height.

• A little more land at the summit – more than 20m wide. Just an extra 400m2 would allow space for a mound for the enclosed concept plan. The plan allows a good sized viewing area while at the same time screening views to any houses directly below

• A viewing area to be builtWith a community more willing to help.

The Patumahoe Community has a great track record

with community projects. For instance relocating the

Scout and Girl Guides building next to the school

Te Ara O WhangamaireConnecting 2 Auckland Council Reserves across private land. A volunteer

community led initiative in consultation and support from local Iwi and AC.

All construction and ongoing maintenance has been done by the community.

Patumahoe Village Inc consulting with the

Community about planning the future.

Over 400 people came along.

Maori Cultural Heritage

• Patumahoe Hill - the high point of one of the last remaining

Native Reserves in the area.

• In the 1850’s it is well documented that Patumahoe was a

thriving settlement of Ngati Tamaoho who grew European

crops and ran a flour mill through to when the land was

confiscated in 1863.

Significant Maori Cultural HeritageThe summit of Patumahoe Hill is the high point and almost in the centre of what was the 700

acres of Patumahoe Native Reserve prior to it’s confiscation in 1863. It is well documented that

in the 1850’s through to the time of confiscation Patumahoe was a thriving Ngati Tamaoho

community growing crops and with their own flour mill. Let the community acknowledge this on

the summit area.

Overlay of Native Reserve on Patumahoe

Old Map showing

Native Reserve area

More detail of old map

showing summit area

Summit with a View adds value

For example Maungakiekie in Auckland has over 1,000,000 visitors a year.

Why

•It is a volcano

•It is close to where people live

•It provides commanding views

•It is valued by the Auckland Community

(How many people would visit the summit of Maungakieki each year if there were no views)?

Community Buy InWith bringing back to life a community treasure

there is more potential for community support.

Eg:

•Volunteer mound wall construction and sourcing of rocks

•Planting of ground cover plants

•Maintenance of pathway and summit area

•Perhaps some more funds for more detailed plans

•On going community consultation

Win for all• Community The community can enjoy a view and a walk or bike ride right on

their doorstep. The summit area can tell a story and help with education of future generations as they look to connect with their environment.

• Developer Increased value of sections to developer with greater asset right on the subdivision boundary

• Auckland Ratepayers Wider community and all of Auckland ratepayers can enjoy with minimal cost for establishment and maintenance

• Local Iwi have some of the cultural and ecological significance of Patumahoe Hill restored and some acknowledgement of their past in the Village of Patumahoe

• Patumahoe Business community can benefit from more visitors

• Auckland Council and the Local Board can be proud of a low cost, multi purpose reserve that creates both a buffer zone and more importantly a place of real community value that promises to have excellent community support.

What a panned summit view will be like

with no mound once houses are built(already compromised by approx 150 degree by existing buldings)

With proposed subdivision approx only 60 degrees of view to South West

would be retained from ground level. Any buildings hedges etc over 2m

to the South West will eliminate any remaining views. There is no

protecting of the remaining views.

So - Patumahoe Hill – what do you prefer?

Option 1

A volcano summit area with almost no views and long term none

Option 2

A volcano summit area with 360 degree views forever for all to enjoy. Views to almost all of Auckland’s other volcanoes and other significant local landmark features