VALUES OF MAKARA FARM/QUARTZ HILL

Regional Park?
One of the criteria for regional parks is open space, natural and cultural experiences, near to urban centres. Makara Farm/Quartz Hill was proposed as a regional park, by the Regional Council in the late 1970s. The views and the land have not changed - "rugged coastland and beautiful bays - expansive wilderness on the region's doorstep with remoteness feeling". Meridian Energy (A State Owned Enterprise (SOE)) now refuses to allow people onto Quartz Hill and has erected a "No trespassers" sign. The Regional Council does not have the funds to purchase the land at this time.

Public Park/Working Farm
A Charitable Trust, the Quartz Hill Reserve Charitable Trust was formed in April 2003, with its objective to create a public park in conjunction with the working farm, so that the public can walk, cycle and possibly ride horses over Quartz Hill. In this way people can then access other western bays of Wellington, such as Te Ikaamaru Bay, as well as enjoying more extensive walks than just the narrow Makara Walkway. The Trust has as its main objective to ensure that the landscape of this area is fully protected for the public enjoyment. It is seeking to purchase or acquire Quartz Hill from Meridian, for the above purposes. The Trust’s Patron is Professor Bellamy of the UK.

Makara Walkway
This public walkway, which is shown on the front cover of DOC’s   2003 edition  "Walkways of New Zealand", is enjoyed by thousands.  At present it is very narrow, and only those who are fit and able can climb to the historic gun emplacements at the top of the hill. The coastal and rural views from the walkway are spectacular.  Access to the gun emplacements from Opau Road on Quartz Hill is a gentle and easy stroll. Meridian refuses to allow the public to access the Opau Road route. If Meridian were successful in its wind power station proposal, the Makara Walkway would no longer be a natural tranquil experience.
 
Department of Conservation (DOC) Covenants
A significant portion of Meridian's Quartz Hill property, in addition to the Makara Walkway, is under DOC covenants, in recognition of "the natural values worthy of protection and preservation". In particular the landscape and spiritual qualities have been recognised and must be protected, in perpetuity for the public enjoyment. Access to the coast for the public is also to be protected, in perpetuity. The covenants particularly refer to the covenantor (and its successors) not carrying out any activity on the balance of the land that would compromise the objectives of the covenants.

Regionally significant values
Quartz Hill is a regionally significant landform; the largest relatively uneroded peneplain remnant in the Wellington Region.
Makara is one of only four regionally significant recreation nodes in the City of Wellington.  It provides the only access by road to the coast for the whole of the (sunny) western and south western coasts of Wellington City, some 60 kms of coastline.

Ecological Values
The Telecom Bush remnants on Quartz Hill are significant conservation sites, such that conservation is a priority.  They must also be protected in terms of the DOC covenants.

Historical Values
The Gun Emplacements provide both historic interest and magnificent views across Cook Strait to the South Island and to the north.

Landscape Values
There is considerable evidence to support the view that this area has outstanding landscape values, and we have evidence to show that wind turbines in this area would adversely affect these values.
 
Under Meridian's likely plans wind turbines 106 metres high would compromise these special areas. This whole area, the walkway and all the beaches would be subject to significant noise, likened overseas to "a busy motorway". There would no longer be natural tranquil beauty. Surely DOC must oppose such a development? The development at Makara would transform the area from rural/coastal to industrial. Why spoil an important recreation area for the City and the region, when this can be clearly avoided?

New Zealand has water, sun, wind and space. We, as a country can avoid the problems now facing Europe where important landscapes have been ruined by "turbine blight". We can embrace wind power, without compromising important landscapes, without subjecting people to intrusive noise, and without spoiling recreation areas. Not to do so, will be ironic, for we will be causing more environmental harm than proponents of wind power expect it to prevent.