Fight continues against Ōrewa subdivision

Opposition to a subdivision that will add 466 homes to West Hoe Heights, Ōrewa shows no sign of abating.

As well as a petition with 300 signatures, there was a public meeting in Ōrewa on May 6 attended by local politicians and around 100 members of the community.

Crs Wayne Walker and John Watson oppose it, describing the development, which is called Strathmill, as “not a case of NIMBY (not in my back yard), more a case of NIABY (not in anybody’s back yard)”.

The 24.3ha site already has resource consent for 201 homes, but developer Shildon Ltd is currently applying through the fast-track process to build more than twice that number, alarming a large number of residents.

Shildon Ltd development manager, Andrew Allsopp-Smith, says he has faced opposition before but not to this degree.

He says he has dropped leaflets, and met with more than 74 adjacent property owners and iwi since the start of the year.

“As soon as I explain what we are doing, and the mitigation, many find their concerns are laid to rest,” he says.

Cr John Watson says the fast-track process, which does not allow for wider public notification, and limited Council input, is a big concern, especially when the land in question has a history of instability.

“Given recent floods, this sort of deficit in the planning process is even more inappropriate,” he says.

Rob Matthews, who lives alongside the site, also wants wider consultation on the proposed development. He says the biggest issue is increasing congestion on local roads, along with the potential effects of the density proposed on infrastructure such as stormwater, public transport and schools.

Allsopp-Smith says that the 11 new public roads and two upgraded intersections in the proposal will improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists. He says the company had to show it would meet Auckland Council’s stormwater requirements, and do a full traffic assessment.

Three hundred sites have been pre-sold to companies who will create home and land packages to what Allsopp-Smith says are strict design criteria.

“We are a business, and this shows us we are meeting market demand,” he says. “At the same time, we are listening to the residents’ concerns and take them seriously. It’s their neighbourhood, and we want to be part of it. There is an open invitation for anyone with concerns to contact me directly so we can talk.”

Recently the fast-track process reached the stage of inviting comments on the w Backstories www.localmatters.co.nz

February 20 and April 17, 2023

Hold on density provisions

Meanwhile, Auckland Council recently got a one-year reprieve from Government on its Plan Change 78, which was to change the Unitary Plan to enable Government’s higher density standards. The extra time has been given because of the need to investigate construction in areas at high risk of flooding. ‘Water sensitive design’, such as the replacement of hard surfaces like concrete with more absorbent material is one focus. Allsopp-Smith says it is too early to say how this could affect Strathmill, as it is not known at this stage which areas could be affected, and how.