Auckland Development Committee discusses Kauri Tree issue

Today’s meeting of the Auckland Council’s development committee discussed concerns surrounding plans to remove a Kauri tree at 40 Paturoa Road.

Councillors heard from council’s resource consents and legal teams on the applications for 40 and 42 Paturoa Road. The committee discussed aspects of the consenting process including consultation with iwi and the local board.

The committee:

· Agreed to undertake a review of processes involved in assessing and granting the consent applications to undertake development on the sites at 40 and 42 Paturoa Road, with the specific and sole purpose of identifying matters that could be improved in future council processes and to be included in Auckland Council’s submissions to central government on its current view of the RMA and report back to the Auckland Development Committee.

· Directed the Chief Planning Officer of Auckland Council to lead the review to be undertaken on process

· Agreed that council will continue to work with the land owners to seek a resolution to current concerns.

Committee Chair and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse said:

“This recommendation means we can take a look at our processes to see what we can do better, particularly in how we communicate with local boards and mana whenua. It also means we can continue to pursue best practice to serve our communities.”

The results of the review will be reported back to the Auckland Development Committee on Thursday 16 April 2015.

–ENDS-

© Scoop Media