New urban centre in sight at old quarry land

The site of the Landco development at Mt Wellington.

Auckland's largest residential development is entering its final planning phase, as the public gets the right to voice opinions about zoning changes on the site, part of a former Mt Wellington quarry.

Site owner Landco released new images yesterday showing how the finished project might look. A new town centre is to be developed in the middle of the 110ha block, surrounded by low-rise housing, terraced units and apartment blocks of up to five storeys.

There will be shops, a school, offices and about 2600 new houses for about 6000 people in the former quarry. Construction has already started on part of the quarry's rim.

The project took a step forward yesterday when Auckland City said it would publicly notify the plan change for rezoning a good part of the former quarry floor. The last 50ha of the 110ha quarry is yet to have its planning rules changed from quarrying to residential.

The Environment Court has agreed to consider an application by Landco to rezone most of the quarry floor on the southern and western side.

Landco is owned by the country's richest family, the Todds, who appeared on last month's NBR Rich List at $2.75 billion, and Auckland developer Greg Olliver, listed as having $250 million.

The quarry's rim and part of its floor is already rezoned, which has allowed Fletcher Residential to begin the first houses, although some local body politicians have called for all traffic issues to be addressed before the council supports the plan change.

Landco executives George Hulbert and Andrew Stringer said yesterday that a variety of housing was planned, ranging from 200sq m to 220sq m, two-level, standalone residences to low-rise terraced housing and five-level apartment blocks.

The public has until September 18 to make submissions on the plan change.


Creating a suburb

* Former Mt Wellington quarry is 8km from CBD.
* New town centre there is yet to be named.
* Landco has owned the 110ha site since 2001.
* In June, Fletcher Residential started building on the College Rd side.