KEY POINTS:
The Environment Court has asked for a rethink on part of the proposed residential development of the Mt Wellington quarry to protect unobstructed views and access to a nearby volcanic cone.
The court has said rows of two-storey townhouses would be visually intrusive and act as a physical barrier to those wishing to climb the northern flank of the cone of Maungarei (Mt Wellington).
The comments were made in an interim decision by Judge Craig Thompson following a hearing between developers Landco Mt Wellington and the Auckland City Council.
Judge Thompson said he would like to see the development redesigned to recognise issues raised by the Volcanic Cones Society including that advantage had not been taken of the opportunity to better integrate Maungarei into the development.
The society opposed the taking of the residential development up to the boundary of the Mt Wellington domain. It had based its submission on the intention of the council's planning documents, the scheduled management review of Maungarei as a heritage landscape feature, and actions being taken to achieve world heritage status for the Auckland volcanic field.
Judge Thompson suggested that a block of nine townhouses at the edge between the development and the northern slope of Maungarei be removed.
"The two residential sites proposed for the eastern end of Gollan Rd should be removed and that part of the site left open."
The issue was passed back to Landco and the council with the request they reconsider and present a revised proposal by tomorrow.
Greg Smith, spokesman Volcanic Cones Society, said the council should have taken up an offer by the developers to keep the land in question clear.
The council failed to meet the objectives of its district plan and the Auckland regional policy statement to preserve outstanding natural features.
