Fletcher seeks rezoning for quarry land

Fletcher wants land rezoned so it can build there.

An application by New Zealand's biggest listed company to have its 15.2ha Three Kings Quarry rezoned for about 1500 residences is before independent planning commissioners in Auckland this week.

Fletcher Residential, a division of Fletcher Building, has applied to change the zoning of the quarry land on Mt Eden Rd so it can go ahead with a high-density development which involves neighbouring public land.

"Fletcher seeks a plan change to enable the comprehensive redevelopment of the former Fletcher and Mt Roskill Borough quarry lands at Three Kings for residential and mixed use," its application said.

Fletcher outlined its vision for the development of its land and an adjacent 6.4ha of Crown and Auckland Council-owned or administered land to the south and southwest of the site.

Bill Loutit, Fletcher's lawyer, told commissioners a land swap with the council was under way in parallel with the plan change application.

"Fletcher's proposal makes the most of the topography to hide much of the built form from the surrounding neighbourhood whilst achieving the high density housing that Auckland desperately needs," Loutit's submission said.

"Buildings built on the quarry edge will appear only to be three to four storeys high from the adjacent road level, before cascading down the quarry faces to the valley floor," Loutit said.

He acknowledged there had been concern about the amount of consultation and how Fletcher had dealt with the Puketapapa Local Board, but he said Fletcher had been a "willing and active participant" in preparing the Three Kings Plan and had made amendments to address issues raised.

A Fletcher report went further.

"Three Kings is well positioned to become a thriving town centre. The community will offer residents a unique lifestyle choice; residential living areas on the doorstep of an existing town centre, connected to high quality recreational facilities," the report said.

Fletcher's Winstone has operated a scoria quarry since the 1920s, creating the city's deepest quarry.

Residents in the area have called for Fletcher to fill in the quarry, but the business plans to re-contour parts of the side, then build within the hole.

Fletcher consultants Tattico said parts of the land would be ready for redevelopment from this year, with other parts progressively becoming available in the next five years.

"This is one of the few brownfields areas remaining on the isthmus and one of only a couple of areas where significant urban intensification can take place on vacant land.

"The unique opportunity of this land ... provides significant benefit and positive effects. Required housing densities can be achieved with the surrounding community's perception of four storey development above the rim of the quarry, when in actual fact nine- and 10-storey apartment buildings line the western and southern edge of the block," Tattico's report said.

Steve van Kampen, Auckland Council principal planner for the central and islands area, recommended the application be approved with some modifications.

The hearing is continuing.

Read the submissions here:

Three Kings Quarry

• Auckland's deepest quarry, mined since 1920s.
• Scheme before planning commissioners this week.
• Fletcher wants land rezoned so it can build there.
• 15.2ha site could have 'cascading' apartments.
• Nine- and 10-level apartment blocks planned.