ARC takes new tack in dry dock battle

Devonport residents have lost a powerful ally in their battle against a plan to install a huge floating dry dock at the naval dockyard.

The Auckland Regional Council denied planning permission in December for the dock, which operator Babcock New Zealand says will boost its share of the lucrative super-yacht refit trade and create 60 jobs.

ARC planning commissioners agreed with 40 objectors that the dock would cause "significant adverse visual effects".

But now that the company has come back with a scaled-down version, the council says it will give its blessing, with certain conditions.

Stanley Bay residents are also not assured of North Shore City Council help to try to fend off the dock. It might settle for a say - along with residents - in what conditions go to the Environment Court for approval.

But residents spokesman Ross Taylor said yesterday the revised dock would still be a blight and would mean more industrial noise.

The original proposal was for a dock of about 100m long with a telescopic roof reaching to 29m.

Jonathan Toomey of Babcock Yacht Services said the revised plan was half the bulk of the original.

Mr Toomey said the company believed that for most of the time noise would be well below levels permitted under the district plan.

The company's consulting landscape architect said the proposal had a "moderate visual impact to a few Stanley Bay residents".

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