Review critical of council processes around consenting Te Mata Peak track

The track cut into the eastern face of Te Mata peak has attracted considerable opposition and support. Photo/File

An independent review has criticised Hastings District Council's processes to approve a resource consent to build the zig-zag track on the eastern face of Te Mata Peak.

The council commissioned the external legal review following public outcry over it allowing the resource consent application by Craggy Range to build the track to be non-notified.

The review, conducted by Matthew Casey QC, found some aspects of the non-notification decision could have been more fully assessed, particularly in relation to the cultural values of the area, identified as an outstanding natural landscape in the council's district plan.

In his report to the council Mr Casey said there were a number of areas where decision-making that led to the conclusion the track would only have minor effects could have been more thorough.

A significant potential issue was the lack of information about effects on cultural values associated with Te Mata Peak, he said.

"The potential for cultural effects ought to have been expressly considered, particularly given the flagging in the [district] plan of the peak's importance to Ngati Kahungunu."

The Te Mata Peak track. Photo/File

Group manager planning and regulatory services John O'Shaughnessy said the findings of the report clearly identified that the council did not fully consider the cultural values of this landscape, which led to the non-notification process for this consent.

"We fully accept the findings of this report," he said.

"The findings from this review will be fully embraced by future consenting processes for similar landscapes and we have already begun scoping possible changes to the district plan to ensure cultural values are appropriately reflected in the outstanding landscape features such as Te Mata Peak."

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said she accepted the council should have better recognised the significance of Te Mata Peak, in terms of its cultural significance and as an outstanding natural landscape.

"Next week council will consider options to strengthen the district plan to better recognise the status of Te Mata Peak to our community."