KEY POINTS:
Orakei and Remuera residents are spending $60,000 to make their voices heard about a controversial residential development on the water's edge at Hobson Bay.
Residents are incensed at an Auckland City Council decision to approve a four-level apartment building with 42 residential units without an opportunity for the public to have a say.
Top environmental lawyer Richard Brabant has been hired to try to overturn the decision in the courts.
About 100 concerned residents attended a public meeting in Orakei last night to form an incorporated society, the Orakei Residents Group, to take on the council and developer Tony Gapes.
Companies Mr Gapes is associated with eventually plan to build about 400 apartments on a waterfront part of Orakei Rd.
Residents fear loss of harbour views and worse traffic congestion.
Remuera resident and former mayor John Banks said Mr Gapes had some of the worst developments in Auckland to his name and reputation.
They include terraced housing on the former Carter Holt Harvey land at the foot of Mt Eden and the bulky Scene One, Scene Two and Scene Three apartment blocks opposite the Ports of Auckland wharves.
Citizens & Ratepayers Now deputy and local resident Aaron Bhatnagar said it was going to be "East Germany by the sea" judging by plans for blocks of largely one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The first development is for a four-level apartment building with 42 residential units at 246 Orakei Rd.
Formerly a motel site, it is on a promontory between the bridge over the Purewa Creek and the Orakei railway station.
Auckland City Council planner Kim Aukett considered the application and concluded the effects on the environment would be minor and no one would be adversely affected so decided not to give the public a say.
Council planning reports said the 246 Orakei Rd site was part of the tuff ring surrounding the Orakei Basin volcanic explosion crate, spurring Volcanic Cones Society president John Street last night to call the plans a "blatant piece of lunacy".
The council has decided to call for public views for a second development to build 203 apartments on the other side of the railway station at 228 Orakei Rd, next door to King's Plant Barn.
Submissions close on January 30.
