When is green space not green enough ?

[padding] [If you are unable to view this message correctly, click here]( [padding] [stuff header]( [spacer] [padding] Hi {NAME}, [Green space is precious in a time of global warming,]( so when is a publicly owned green space not green enough to prevent its sale for development? The answer is, when it is 4 Blomfield Spa in central Takapuna, 500 square metres of green lawn, trees and park benches [which Auckland Councillors have confirmed will be sold.]( Number 4 might be green, [but the council’s finances are red,]( and with an annual sell-off target of $70 million still looking unreachable, its green value appears to have fallen short. Number 4’s back story is an unhappy one. The state-owned site was bought from the government by Takapuna City Council in 1968, unseating a tenant, so a service lane could be built behind neighbouring shops and offices. After the lane was built, half the property remained in lawn, with a half-hearted nod to parklife by the installing of a bench, and in unexplained circumstances, ashtrays for office workers who took breaks there. In public consultation over the July 2020 decision to sell Number 4, 20 locals unanimously backed keeping it as a piece of green, in what may be a more intensely developed area. The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board has always opposed its sale. But history was against Number 4. It is not officially a park, [council park officials say it is only half the minimum size to count as a pocket park,]( and there are other pieces of green, 400 metres away. The mayor Phil Goff put the final nail in the coffin, reminding councillors that criteria was criteria and there was no place to bend the rules, after other similar pieces had already been sold. Or, that a precedent might be setting unravelling the assets sale programme. Most importantly, the council needs to get closer to the $70 million proceed target, locked in place two years. Two weeks before the council [signed off its Climate (Action) Plan.]( Whether number 4, could have played a small part in the “greening of neighbourhoods” to be funded from the proposed [Climate Action Targeted Rate,]( will never be known. [padding] [user profile pic] [padding] Todd Niall [padding] Senior Stuff Journalist [padding] [spacer] [padding] [See more Auckland news]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [Privacy Info]( [spacer] [Privacy Info]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][Watch this video now][spacer] Tornadoes possible in heavy dousing forecast [spacer] Heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong northeasterlies are expected to hit parts of [northern and central New Zealand on Monday, with tornadoes possible, MetService warns.]( Auckland is among the areas expected to cop the brunt of the poor weather, with 80mm to 110mm of rain expected before 2pm, especially north of the Harbour Bridge. Auckland is also under a strong wind watch for the same period, with northeast winds expected to approach severe gale at times. People are advised to [keep up-to-date with the latest forecasts.]( [spacer] [Read More] [padding] [spacer] [padding] [Privacy Info]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] More Auckland stories you might have missed [spacer][separator] [padding] [spacer] [padding] [Article Image]( [spacer] 'Sass queen' who wasn't expected to live past 2 weeks at birth starts school [spacer] [Read more button]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [Article Image]( [spacer] Woman arrested after five people hit by car at Auckland mall [spacer] [Read more button]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [gArticle Image]( [spacer] Auckland doctor who sexually abused patient forced to sell $900k worth of shares [spacer] [Read more button]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [gArticle Image]( [spacer] Round the Bays 50 years: Looking back at Auckland's fun run [spacer] [Read more button]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [padding] [spacer][Support Stuff]( [spacer] [padding] Discover more at [spacer] [stuff logo] [spacer] [www.stuff.co.nz/auckland]( [padding] [spacer][footer bar] [padding] [spacer] You are receving this email because you are a opted in to receive the Your Auckland newsletter from Stuff. [Unsubscribe]( [Manage your profile]( [Privacy Policy]( Did a friend forward you this email? [Sign up to get Your Auckland in your inbox]( Stuff, 4 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland, 1021, New Zealand [spacer] [padding]