Villagers to f ight ‘monstrosity’
A group has been formed to fight against a housing development ‘‘monstrosity’’ that would increase the size of a Taranaki seaside village by more than a third.
The debate on Wairau Estate, beneath the Kaitake Ranges off State Highway 45 immediately south of Oakura, is headed for an independent hearing. Residents feel their settlement, which houses fewer than 700 homes, would be overrun by the proposed 400-property development.
More than 400 submissions have been made to the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) as it considers rezoning the 58-hectare area from rural to mainly residential. Just two submissions fully supported the proposal.
‘‘We feel that the community’s already spoken and this should be rejected now, similar to the way the community reacted to the Fitzroy Golf Course issue,’’ resident Richard Shearer said.
Earlier this year New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom backed down from an election proposal of selling off half of the Fitzroy Golf Course land for housing development following local consultation.
The group fear the ramifications of the large-scale block, and say the school, the roads and the beach would be overwhelmed. It could increase the population from 1380 to 2500.
Shearer said the community have to raise $40,000 to equip themselves for the hearing and were at a disadvantage as lay people.
However, the council has a legal process to follow, NPDC district planning lead Juliet Johnson said.
‘‘The submissions we received during the consultation process will be heard by independent commissioners before any decision is made. As an independent regulatory authority, NPDC is following the correct legal process.’’
Resident Steve Looney labelled the development a ‘monstrosity’ and said being on the south side would see all traffic coming through the village to go to work or school in the city.
‘‘We agree that Oakura needs to be able to develop but there are already approximately 200 sections’ worth of land which are zoned residential which have not been developed,’’ Shearer said.
The proposed project is a continuation of McKie’s 2010 ‘The Paddocks’ subdivision, which had 26 lots in stage one and also attracted opposition.
The district plan zones the land as rural and dictates that future growth remain between SH45 and the sea.
‘‘What’s the point of having these plans if somebody can go and make a large-scale plan change like this? To have a plan change process that just makes an utter mockery of the last 100 years of work and steady development, it’s wrong,’’ Shearer said.
The development would be accessed via a new road off Wairau Rd and the existing SH45/Wairau Rd intersection is proposed to be upgraded with a new roundabout and a pedestrian underpass.
The development is also meant to be built over a number of years.
The hearing, in front of independent commissioners, is likely to be held in March, and a recommendation will then be made to the council. A decision is expected in mid-2019.
Landowner Mike McKie and planner Colin Comber could not be reached for comment.