Cone plan eases residents' concerns

Reinstating the volcanic cone is central to the latest plans for high-density housing on the coastal headland at Orakei.

A cone-like park rising from Orakei Rd to screen development on the Hobson Bay side of the Orakei Peninsula is the idea of architect Andrew Patterson.

Mr Patterson, who has created some of New Zealand's most celebrated works, including the clubhouse at The Hills golf course in Queenstown, topped in living turf, is seeking a similar solution at Orakei.

The plans will be presented by Auckland City Mayor John Banks to a public meeting in Remuera tomorrow after a successful workshop with interested groups.

Mr Banks is hoping the public will be more supportive after fierce criticism from locals to earlier plans for the sensitive coastal site.

These included separate developments at 228 and 246 Orakei Rd by Tony Gapes' Redwood Group, followed by the council and Redwood Group seeking a co-ordinated masterplan for the area.

The first draft of the masterplan included 13-storey towers and was dropped.

"Andrew Patterson has saved the day with his architectural brilliance," said Mr Banks yesterday.

The Patterson plan is the second attempt at a masterplan.

Like the previous plan, it excludes buildings on the Orakei Basin side of Orakei Rd.

Development is concentrated around the Orakei railway station facing Hobson Bay with provision for more than 600 apartments in buildings up to eight storeys.

There is a five-storey height limit on the site.

Orakei Residents' Society president Warren Tuohey said the 700-strong group gave the Patterson plan a qualified yes, subject to resolving density, height, quality and traffic concerns.

"If they are prepared to build quality apartments, we are prepared to support it."

Mr Tuohey said the society still had misgivings about traffic flows from a further 800 vehicles using Orakei Rd in peak hours.

Traffic was bad enough at present, with 2000 vehicles an hour using the narrow and winding road, he said.

The Volcanic Cones Society also has reservations about the plans.

The next stage is notification of the masterplan, which will go out for public consultation.

Much of the peninsula is owned by the Redwood Group and the private property investment company Equinox.

They are keen to get a masterplan for the area but have no immediate plans to develop the area under the present economic conditions.

Tomorrow's meeting will be held at St Kentigern School hall, 82 Shore Rd, Remuera at 6pm.