Brett Russell, in the consortium which has just won planning approval to rezone a huge area at Beachlands. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Brett Russell, in the consortium which has just won planning approval to rezone a huge area at Beachlands. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Appeals have been dropped against multibillion-dollar plans for 307 hectares of land in southeast Auckland for a new town hub and 5000 homes.
Brett Russell of the Beachlands South Limited Partnership said today agreements were reached.
The partnership had worked with Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and others toaddress concerns and reach agreements to finalise approval of the plan change, he said.
Land to be developed includes the 170.5ha Formosa Golf Course and adjoining sites.
“The success of negotiating a sensible outcome means that the development process can now move forward with the next phase of planning,” he said.
Russell said the plan change had taken many years.
“We have had a lot of positive support for securing this long-term, master-planned development at Beachlands South that will provide new housing supply for Auckland, as well as schools, new employment opportunities, recreational and community facilities for the whole region,” Russell said today.
A coastal path is proposed at the planned Beachlands South development.
The Beachlands coastal community was established in the 1930s, the partnership said.
Since that time it had evolved through a series of plan changes “in an uncoordinated way”.
“The Beachlands South masterplan is an opportunity to complete the expansion of the community in a coordinated and innovative way which greatly enhances lifestyles for all of those who live there, now and in the future.”
Last November, the Heraldreported how the scheme was proposed on land without reticulated or sewage mains, according to an expert from Watercare, which doesn’t oppose the plans.
Beachlands South would be initially 2900 stand-alone homes, apartments and terraced residences but then retirement places, schools, a hotel, a town hub and light industrial and eventually 5000 homes if rezoning is allowed.
Watercare head of major development Mark Iszard cited the developers’ plans for mainly bore water for residents of the new town centre as well as a new sewage treatment system.
Russell says the wider Beachlands area had developed in an ad hoc way since the 1930s but the new scheme is master-planned. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Iszard’s evidence for Watercare on private plan change application 88 to have the land rezoned for the scheme with $2.5b infrastructure told how the water for thousands of new homes was proposed to mainly come from underground.
“Watercare does not provide water supply to Beachlands,” he said, noting people there use rainwater collection and the existing system owned by Pine Harbour Living, which gets its water from a sustainable aquifer 175m below the ground.
The developers want to tap that aquifer further: “Groundwater is the primary supply source,” Iszard noted.
Reservoirs might be needed within the development to ensure fire-fighting supply standards are met. A new water treatment plant would also be needed to ensure the water supply meets drinking water standards and the developers acknowledge that, he noted.
Nineteen Restaurant, Bar and Clubhouse at Rydges Formosa Golf Resort in Auckland's Beachlands.
Iszard cited the need for drinking water suppliers to comply with the law and the potential for serious risks to public health if they didn’t: “Although Watercare does not anticipate there is any risk of failure in relation to PC88, it wishes to note the direct interest it has in ensuring that private suppliers are compliant with the requirements of the Water Services Act”.
Nor does Beachlands have a reticulated wastewater or sewage network, he noted. The existing Beachlands wastewater treatment plant couldn’t accommodate the increased volumes anticipated by the big new hub.
The developers propose a new membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment plant to discharge on land or a permanent stream via a wetland.
“On the basis that the applicant can deliver a technically feasible solution privately, Watercare does not oppose PC88,” Iszard’s submission said.
Overall, Watercare considered there were no water or wastewater servicing reasons to decline the developers’ plan change application as long as certain conditions were met.
Peter Reaburn, a consultant town planner who gave evidence for Auckland Council, said: “My primary concern I raise is that private plan change 88 represents significant urban growth in an area that has not been specifically identified for urban growth.”
It was therefore not appropriate to rezone the land, Reaburn said last year.
Mark Laing, a consultant traffic engineer, submitted evidence on behalf of Auckland Transport. The rezoning proposal would have “potentially significant adverse traffic effects on the road network surrounding Beachlands” without upgrades, he said.
Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 24 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.
