Local boards move to protect volcanic viewshafts

Local board councillors have voiced their concern over a proposal to remove five volcanic viewshafts and reclassify three others.

Ground views of volcanos in Auckland are currently protected by ‘viewshafts’, which are building restrictions imposed to ensure public views of volcanic cones remain unobstructed.

The five viewshafts proposed to be removed by the Auckland Council Development Committee (ADC) are the Fowlds Park view to Mount Albert, the Balmoral Road view to Mount Eden, the Alberton House view to Mount Eden, the Southern Motorway view to Mount Eden, and the Waipuna Road view to Mount Wellington.

Their removal would mean the Unitary Plan could make use of the lifted height restrictions.

At an Extraordinary Meeting of the ADC held on Tuesday, March 22, local board members pointed out that the Auckland Council Regional Policy Statement (ACRPS) conflicted with the current proposal to remove the viewshafts.

“The ACRPS suggests that ‘... urban intensification is required to be consistent with the protection of volcanic features and viewshafts’,” said Orakei Local Board member Mark Thomas.

Eden/Albert Local Board chairman Peter Haynes, urged the ADC to move forward with extreme caution.

“Once viewshafts are lost, they are lost forever. To say that they are an outstanding natural feature is an understatement,” Haynes said.

Councillors at the meeting voted down the proposal by the ADC to remove five of the viewshafts.

There are currently 87 viewshafts in Auckland and a final decision on their fate will be made by an independent hearings panel that will advise the best solution in July.