Apartment tower to obscure Vero Centre views

By ANNE GIBSON

A 38-level tower to be built in front of Auckland's Vero Centre has been given planning approval using the same rule book which allowed the 40-level office block to go up, according to a planning expert.

Auckland City Council senior planner Vijay Lala said the same district plan rules had to apply to all developers, whether they were building an office or residential block.

He was commenting on the construction of Residences @ Harbour City, a 378-unit block to be built at 42-58 Fort St near the Gore St intersection, in front of Vero.

"What can be built on one site can be built on a neighbouring site," he said, comparing the Vero Centre with the proposed Residences tower.

The height and bulk rules which the Residences would be allowed would be similar to those Vero's developers received when they built some years ago, Lala said.

Australia's First City plans to begin construction this month of the high-rise apartment block on the northern waterfront side of the Vero Centre, owned by the country's largest listed property entity, Kiwi Income Property Trust.

"If you want uninterrupted views, you'd have to build somewhere like Quay St or on a high ridge," Lala said, noting that views were not protected in the district plan.

The effects of the proposed tower on the Vero Centre were not considered when planning approval was being given for the Residences @ Harbour City, he said, although the council did require in-depth assessments on wind and traffic aspects relating to the tower.

First City, whose directors include Colin Godfrey and Steve Catsicas who came here from Australia to establish the business, is now expanding into China's apartment market.

Multiplex Construction is contracted to build its Auckland tower and Shane Brealey of Multiplex said his firm would start work on June 22 and take about 22 months.

Russell McVeagh chief executive Gary McDiarmid said his firm was not concerned about the planned building.

Russell McVeagh worked with Royal & SunAlliance in 1997 to ensure the development went ahead, because pre-commitment was needed before Kiwi began building, he said.

"We had anticipated at time of committing to the building development that there would be developments at some stage to the north or northeast of our building - no surprises as there were plans on the drawing board at the time for developments, including the original Britomart towers," he said.

The Vero Centre was a "fantastic building, from design to operational efficiency" and Russell McVeagh was not unhappy with the new tower about to go up in front of them, he said.

"We occupy levels 25 to 30 on a 15-year term with rights of renewal for further terms after that and the rent review is about every three years time," he said.