A ban on almost all cars at the top of Auckland city's highest volcanic cone is a step closer.
Mt Eden, as seen from One Tree Hill Photo: CC Foolash
The Tupuna Maunga o Tamaki Makaurau Authority has voted unanimously in favour of the vehicle ban on Maungawhau-Mount Eden, although the decision is subject to the approval of a budget.
The car ban plan has been in the pipeline for eight years.
For people with mobility problems - who would be allowed to drive up - a report has suggested gates could be operated by swipecards, or by entering a code on a pinpad.
It is not yet known how much the system would cost to operate, how much any staffing would cost, or the expense of dealing with problems like a power cut, which has added extra months of waiting for the supporters of the new rules.
The authority's chairman, Paul Majurey, said they still needed to work out some of the costing specifics.
"The indicative costing is that all up this is around the $100,000 mark, but the call from the authority tonight was to get some definition around those numbers before we take the next final steps."
Mr Majurey said the budget will be assessed in the coming months.
Kit Howden, chair of local conservation group Friends of Maungawhau, said Mount Eden was a world-class archeological site which was being damaged by cars.
He said that as Auckland grew consideration would also have to be given to the city's other volcanic cones.
