Council deal on boat sheds

Two neighbouring councils have settled a row over controls on how big, shiny sheds will look at Hobsonville, beside the upper Waitemata Harbour.

The North Shore City Council appealed to the Environment Court against a Waitakere City Council plan change to enable a "marine industry cluster" of boat sheds on 20ha of the former Hobsonville Air Base.

"We were concerned that the visual effects of these buildings would have affected harbour views from Beach Haven and other coastal suburbs, which are directly across the water from Hobsonville," said North Shore regulatory chairman Callum Blair.

The councils have negotiated an agreement on beefing up controls, including a stipulation that new buildings have a variety of heights and shape and will be screened by planting.

The agreement saves the cost of a court hearing.

Mr Blair's counterpart at Waitakere City, Vanessa Neeson, said the plan change for marine industry growth would boost the economy and give jobs to local people.

"More than 2000 direct jobs are expected to be created when the entire marine industry area is operating," she said.

The council's development arm, Waitakere Properties, is ready to lodge resource consents.