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Controversy surround local plan changes
09.03.10 Proposed
Changes to
the Waitakere City Council District Plan
has aroused controversy amongst local community groups. Both the Waitakere ranges
Protection Society and the Titirangi Ratepayers and Residents have come out against
the proposals and have urged residents to make submission to the Council on the
proposed plan changes.
The Waitakere Ranges Protection Society (WRPS) is urging residents and supporters to get involved in the submission process and write to the Council objecting to the proposed changes. The WRPS issued a press release stating: The Waitakere Ranges are under a 2-pronged attack from Waitakere City Council in an attempt to commercialise them, and the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society are having to continue the battle to protect them, despite the passing of the Heritage Area Act in 2008.
On Tuesday this week WRPS will make submissions to the ARC to support their stance not to allow commercial concessions to operate on the new Hillary Trail through the Ranges. The ARC has been under pressure from WCC to allow commercial operators to operate on the trail and advertise it overseas.
"Our concern is that this will just bring yet more visitors to the Ranges and in the absence of a visitor management strategy their impacts will be uncontrolled and will damage the very values and heritage features they come to see" says Society President John Edgar.
"The Ranges are a delicate ecosystem and cannot support busloads of tourists and the infrastructure development that commercial operators will demand to support their businesses. This is Auckland's park and a wilderness area. The Hillary Trail is intended as a backpacker experience for local people, it is not the Milford Track."
At the same time as wanting to open the Ranges up to more tourism Waitakere City Council have also notified 3 District Plan Changes that have the potential to undermine the Heritage Area Act and introduce commercial activities on residential sites throughout the Ranges, Foothills and in the Regional Park.
"Plan Change 36 will have a devastating effect on the Ranges and totally change the character of the villages over time. Local people have not been adequately informed or consulted and we believe it should be withdrawn" says Secretary Mels Barton. "Anyone will be able to open a shop, takeaway, café, battery chicken farm, tourism business and many other commercial activities anywhere in the Ranges as of right. There will be no public notification or opportunity for people to object if these Plan Changes go ahead. It's blatant commercialisation of the Heritage Area via the front door and Council are trying to ram it through before the Super City arrives. It's not what the residents want and they don't even understand that it is happening because there has been no community engagement". WRPS have also produced a video for YouTube setting out their arguments.
The Council responded by issuing a press release of their own saying: Waitakere City Council today expressed its concern at the amount of misinformation and scaremongering circulating about its notified plan changes in regards to the Waitakere Ranges.
“The Plan Changes are not about more subdivision,” said Planning and Community Services Group Manager Philip Brown. “They are about recognising there are some limited activities that support local communities and visitors. The rules need to target appropriate activities and give certainty for everyone. They do not enable retail activity across the Heritage Area.”
Plan Change 36 covers the whole Heritage Area and addresses each zone specifically through policies and rules. There is a focus in the Foothills Environment, with other provisions amended for the Coastal Villages, Waitakere Ranges and Bush Living Environments.
“In the Coastal Villages, Waitakere Ranges and Bush Living Environments (zones) retail is limited to extensions to existing activities such as dairies and cafes and to art galleries (with Resource Consent required),” said Mr Brown. “New cafes are a discretionary activity, which means that Resource Consent is required. All other retail must qualify as a home occupation within the existing operative rules of the District Plan. All other forms of retail are non-complying. The Plan Change proposed here removes elements that are not working or provides more clarity.”
Council has proposed farming is permitted in the foothills as it is a rural activity, although intensive farming involving animals in buildings is a discretionary activity and would require Resource Consent. Further, the Heritage Act prohibits large scale farming operations.
“The existing management of development in Titirangi is unclear which is why Council wants to provide some certainty”, says Mr Brown. The new rules are more restrictive on buildings in the village and a range of further assessment criteria and standards have been proposed to ensure development performs well.”
Extending the commercial zone of the village to include South Titirangi Rd as far as the new commercial offices below Toby’s is recognition by the council, following community consultation, that around the periphery of the commercial zoned village there are many existing non-residential activities. This needs to be managed accordingly and a clear boundary for the village is needed. The existing management of development in Titirangi is unclear which is why Council wants to provide some certainty. The new rules are more restrictive on buildings in the village.
“Oratia is a rural village whose community indicated it wanted some limited opportunities for a rural neighbourhood,” says Mr Brown. “This was a key outcome of the Oratia Local Area Plan. Council has proposed that any activities in the village are designed within an orchard landscape setting and the rules are particular in achieving a style of development unique to a rural village. The focus is on activities that serve that local community.”
Council is keen to receive feedback from the community on the proposed Plan Changes. People are encouraged to have their say and raise any issues through the formal submission process. Submissions will be received until Friday 12 March 2010.
“Council has an open mind about the proposals contained within the proposed Plan Changes,” says Mr Brown. “We welcome the help from the community in shaping the final outcome”.
Anyone wishing
to make a submission on the proposals has until 5pm on Friday March 12th.
Submissions can be made via the Council’s form or just as a letter,
download details of the Plan Changes and the submission form here:
http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcnl/pp/districtplan/districtplanchanges.asp#planchange35
http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcnl/pp/districtplan/
districtplanchanges.asp#planchange36
http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcnl/pp/districtplan/
districtplanchanges.asp#planchange37
Send your submission to:
The Chief Executive
Waitakere City Council
Private Bag 93109
Henderson
Waitakere City 1231
Attention: Group Manager Planning & Community Services
(Philip Brown)
Or via email to:
Philip.brown@waitakere.govt.nz
