Residents in the Auckland suburb of Devonport have voiced their concern over a planned housing development which they say will block picturesque views and overshadow heritage buildings.
Devonport residents gathered today to protest against a proposal for an eight-storey building plan submitted for the Government's fast track approval.
It included apartments, a hotel and retail spaces that would be built above heritage buildings.
Residents even released red helium balloons to show the scale of the proposed building from the ground.
Margot McRae from the Devonport Heritage group said if the height of up to 37m was approved, it would change the suburb fundamentally.
"It's going to screen the wonderful Takarunga Mount Victoria, it's going to dwarf the heritage buildings."
The group was not opposed to development, but wanted to stick to current council height restrictions of three-to-four storeys.
Mark Hiddleston of Developer Peninsula Capital said they always knew height was going to be a concern.
"We spent a long time with a team of experts making sure that what we’re proposing balances out the heritage, cultural, and economic needs, of a project like this."
Hiddleston said the project was also about revitalisation.
"The shop-fronts will be brought back to their former glory, while at the same time making the town a desirable place for people to want to come live, work, and visit, for the 21st century."
The Fast Track Approval Act was intended to streamline consent for crucial infrastructure and development. But McRae said it was allowing developers to cut out local voices.
"At the beginning they needed us, fast track came along and they thought we've got a free reign so Chris Bishop is actually giving developers a hands up."
Infrastructure Minister responds
In a statement, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop told 1News "the suggestion that communities have been cut out of the process or that developers have been given free reign is inaccurate".
"Fast-track is different from standard RMA processes because it is designed to support timely, coordinated decision-making. Every project is assessed by an independent expert panel, which considers environmental effects, infrastructure and the views of relevant iwi, local authorities and certain other groups before making its recommendation," he said.
Bishop said fast-track approval does not mean a development can proceed regardless of whether the necessary infrastructure exists it can decide infrastructure needs to be in place before construction.
Expert panels can, and do, require roads, water, wastewater and other essential infrastructure to be in place before construction, occupation or later stages of a development can proceed. They can also impose financial contributions and other conditions or decline projects where adverse effects outweigh the regional or national benefits.
"We have already seen this in practice. Fast-track approvals for projects such as Drury Metropolitan Centre, Homestead Bay in Queenstown, Mission Bay and Milldale all include detailed conditions requiring infrastructure upgrades and connections before development can progress.
"I understand communities will have views about developments in their area, and those views are an important part of the planning process."
North Shore MP Simon Watts said he could not comment on the fast track proposal for Devonport while it is under consideration.
He has agreed to meet with residents.
Concern for other areas
Devonport residents have united with other groups and council members around the country who echo their concerns around the fast track process.
In Waimauku a proposal for over two thousand houses was worrying some in the community.
"That is proposed in the middle of a flood plain in an area with serious flooding issues, no infrastructure outside of a rural urban boundary on highly productive farmland," said Tatjana Ratzdorf of Waimauku Community Association.
Around Queenstown a bid has been put forward to develop a neighbouring community between Arrowtown and Franklin with 1210 houses and a commercial precinct.
Queenstown Smart Growth Initiative spokesperson Hanna Pettit said the concern was that the community would be six kilometres outside of Queenstown Lake Council's spatial plan which signalled land capable of accommodating growth.
"All of those residents will be reliant on private vehicles and will exacerbate the existing traffic issues that we have in the region.
"It's also reliant on having its own private infrastructure, which also raises concerns with the community, and it erodes our natural landscapes."
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