KEY POINTS:
One of the country's richest men has bought up an entire neighbourhood in a top dress circle suburb.
Reclusive developer Greg Olliver, whose personal fortune has been pegged at a minimum $250 million, has gradually amassed about 11 sites overlooking Glover Park in Auckland's eastern suburbs.
Mr Olliver plans to demolish the houses to make way for one the area's largest real estate projects.
But neighbours in St Heliers fear his plans are intrusive and are afraid of the intensive apartment development on the many sites overlooking the sports ground.
Mr Olliver's "mini-suburb" would span Glover Rd and Waimarie St near the waterfront.
It would be across the ridge from the country's most expensive city house - Graeme and Robin Hart's $20 million clifftop estate at 743 Riddell Rd, featuring guest quarters, pool, tennis court and immaculately groomed grounds.
Mr Olliver wants to change that neighbourhood with his high-density plans to make the most of the park views. As well as developing his own mansion to be named after one of the streets, he wants to build 20 luxury units worth about $5 million each in five stepped apartment blocks with 70 car parks.
The apartments will be built in stone and timber and have outdoor fireplaces, winning praise from Auckland City's urban design panel.
While he finalises his scheme, the existing houses remain empty, their gardens overgrown. Some houses have been vacant for four years.
Mr Olliver's own mansion is described variously in reports on his planning application as "Waimarie House" or the main residence.
All the sites are perched on the edge of the St Heliers volcanic crater, a geological feature scheduled by Auckland City.
Many houses were built there in the 1950s and the crater has been heavily modified.
BBG Trust - Mr Olliver's entity for the project - lodged a resource consent application prepared by planning consultants Barker & Associates.
"The proposed development will see the existing dwellings removed and the entire building area earthworked," said the application.
The new apartments would retain the crater slope which had been found to be unstable in places, Barker said.
The panel has assessed the proposal for Waimarie House which it said breached the height limits. It demanded changes but said it supported the overall design.
A report on his proposal by traffic specialists T2 Engineers describes it as "architecturally significant" and says the trust will demolish all the existing houses. The reports said the trust owned 33, 35, 37, 29, 41, 41a, 43 and 45 Glover Rd.
The trust also owns a number of adjoining properties above, which get access from Waimarie St.
Consultants said the proposals went to Auckland City's planning fixtures subcommittee last year but had been put on hold because Mr Olliver wanted to consider other options for the site.
BBG Trust spokeswoman Jane Dodd said the project had been "pulled" but was unable to say what Mr Olliver now planned for the many housing sites.
Greg Olliver
* Founded development business Landco.
* Developing the $1.5 billion Mt Wellington quarry housing project.
* Hatched controversial plans to develop Long Bay.
* Reclusive developer, one of city's biggest risk-takers.
