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Parliament's Speaker Margaret Wilson has lodged an appeal against a resource consent for a massive building complex near Parliament.
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) hopes to commission the building, which would sprawl over several existing sites on the west side of Parliament - extending to the edge of the "sculpture park" next to Parliament's buildings.
The Parliamentary Service Commission has reportedly been concerned at the "massing and dominance of the development", as well as its potential to limit growth of the parliamentary complex, including expansion into the temporary sculpture park.
The ministry has said the planned Bowen Integrated Campus would allow it to amalgamate its national office into one building, boosting productivity by about 3 per cent.
The complex would incorporate the Bowen State Building, where the ministry is housed.
The proposed complex received a resource consent last month, despite its proposed height of 27m exceeding city height limits by 5m.
An Environment Court spokesman today said an appeal application had been received last week, but a hearing would still be some time off.
The court would allow 30 days to see if any other affected parties wished to join the appeal. They would then allow a period to see if mediation could resolve some of the difficulties or at least narrow the issues before hearing.
The Parliamentary Service Commission has been reported to be concerned at the "massing and dominance of the development" on the edge of the parliamentary precinct, as well as its potential to limit growth of the parliamentary complex, including expansion into the temporary sculpture park.
- NZPA
