Decision due on bid for massive expansion at St Lukes
The outcome of Scentre New Zealand’s application for non-notified consent to almost double the size of Westfield St Lukes could be revealed today.
Linda Cooper, chairperson of the Auckland Council hearings committee, said there was a seven-day decision period after last week’s hearing.
“That’s a common timeframe and it was indicated in the agenda item. It gives time for the final decision to be written and approved by the chair as a correct representation of the committee’s decision and the reasons supporting that decision,” Cooper said.
She indicated that the outcome must be robust and able to stand up to any challenges.
“It’s not a simple yes or no answer. The decision must be able to withstand possible judicial scrutiny, ” she said.
One resident of Aroha Ave — the quiet, leafy residential street just a block from the mall — said she was appalled to read the committee documents after the Herald told her about Scentre’s plans.
Elaine Gallagher fears traffic effects on her quiet street, which Scentre hopes will become one of the entranceways into the mall.
The shopping centre’s expansion would be mostly to the north, where Aroha Ave lies.
Gallagher said residents had not agreed to the huge traffic increase being cited in a council document, which said: “Throughout the review of the stage 4/5 development, flow has focussed on how the applicant can manage the level of traffic on Aroha Ave given the challenges highlighted . . . The level of traffic on Aroha Ave which the immediate residents have accepted as being satisfactory was determined through Plan Modification 8.
‘‘The flows that the residents are understood to be satisfied with are 258 vehicles per hour during the weekday evening peak and 325vph