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Resolution
number WTM/2020/138
MOVED by Chairperson R Northey, seconded by Member A
Avendano Christie:
That
the Waitematā Local Board:
a)
provide the following local board
views on private plan change 55 by Askew Consultants Limited in relation to
34.5ha of land at Patumahoe South.
b)
request that private plan change 55
be declined and that the current designation under the unitary plan, which is
of rural - rural production over the bulk of the land be retained.
c)
understand that the fact that the
bulk of the land is classified as Class 1, i.e. elite soil quality, and much
of the land is being actively used for grazing, cropping and horticulture.
The board believe that such production is vitally important for
Auckland’s food resilience provides a compelling reason for this use of
this land to be protected rather than used for urban growth.
Horticulture experts advise that the loss of such land from food production
will increase the cost and availability of food in Auckland and the rest of
New Zealand.
d)
as the National Policy Statement for
Highly productive land will probably take effect within six months and is
likely to provide strong requirements to retain such land for food
production, the Board believe it would be premature to allow this plan
change.
e)
believe that it would be contrary to the
Auckland Council’s climate mitigation strategy for this quality topsoil
to be replaced by residential and light industrial use. This is particularly
the case as the location is not connected to public transport and is remote
from the major transport corridors namely rail and State Highway One and
Twenty Seven. This would result in a higher proportion of the people living
there commuting to their work and recreational activities than from most
other parts of the outskirts of the Auckland urban area and an unnecessarily
high increase in climate change gas emissions.
f)
believe that it would be
unnecessarily costly and disruptive to provide the necessary transport
infrastructure for this currently relatively unconnected location.
g)
agree with the expressed concerns of
Watercare Limited and asserts that it would be difficult to locate, and
particularly resource intensive to provide, the necessary water, wastewater
and stormwater infrastructure for this development.
h)
are concerned about the effects of
reverse sensitivity from the new urban residents on the continuing primary
production activities of what is a very well established and productive
horticultural and agricultural area.
i)
are concerned that that there appears
to have been inadequate consultation to date with manawhenua, and
particularly with Te Akitai Waiohua, which asserts a close cultural
connection with this area.
j)
assert that the principles and
policies underlying the unitary plan are vitally important and should be
adhered to. Urban residential development growth needs to prioritise areas
such as the Waitemata Local Board area which have strong physical, community,
cultural and economic infrastructure. Breaching the provisions of the Unitary
Plan in Patumahoe area will tend to intensify climate change; be
unnecessarily costly and resource intensive particularly for council; will
nullify effective food production and security; and tend to create isolated
and potentially alienated residential areas with inadequate provision to
build strong and healthy communities.
k)
appoint Waitematā local
board member Alex Bonham to speak to the local board views at a hearing on
private plan change 55.
l)
delegate authority to the chairperson
of Waitemata Local Board to make a replacement appointment in the event the
local board member appointed in resolution k) is unable to attend the private
plan change hearing.
m) request that this resolution is circulated to all local
boards and the Governing Body.
CARRIED
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