Decision digest | Auckland Development Committee

12 March 2015

Review agreed to improve future council consent process

Auckland Council committee members met today to discuss the kauri tree in Titirangi and a proposal for Auckland’s membership to the C40 Cities Climate Change Group. The committee also received reports on the Costs of Residential Servicing Study and the Three Kings Land Exchange proposal. A petition was received by the committee on behalf of the Titirangi community against removal of the kauri tree. The following is a digest of decisions made.

The agenda is available on Auckland Council’s website and minutes will be added once confirmed. This meeting was also webcast on the council’s website and items will be available on demand within 24 hours of the meeting.

Items 1-8 are administrative items, excluding the petition received from the Titirangi community and local board input provided by the Waitakere Ranges Local Board. The committee also considered an extraordinary item on the removal of the kauri tree in Titirangi which is summarised below.

Item 4: Petitions

A petition, carrying 26,003 signatures, was presented by members of the Titirangi community against removal of kauri and rimu trees at a private property on Paturoa Road. The committee voted to receive the petition.

Item 6: Local Board Input

The Waitakere Ranges Local Board addressed the committee on its concerns about the consent process to remove a kauri tree in Titirangi and also expressed its support for any moves the committee might make to resolve the issue. The board also raised concerns about kauri dieback and requested that all work on the site be halted until trees are tested for kauri dieback disease.

Item 13.1: Consideration of Extraordinary Items – kauri tree removal at 40 Paturoa Road, Titirangi

The committee heard from council’s resource consent 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.

This review will have the specific and sole purpose of identifying matters that could be improved in future council processes and be included in submissions to central government on potential reform of the RMA.

The committee also agreed that the Chief Planning Officer of Auckland Council is to lead the review and 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.

Item 9: Approval of Plan Change 130 (Peter Snell Youth Village) to the Auckland Council District Plan (Rodney Section) 2011

The committee received a report on the seeking approval for a plan change to provide for the Peter Snell Youth Village to operate and develop in the future in conjunction with planning controls that recognises the ecological and landscape values.

The committee approved the plan change.

Item 10: Cost of Residential Servicing Study

The committee received a study commissioned by council undertaken by the Centre for International Economics and Arup (Engineering Consultancy). The purpose of the study was to provide empirical research into the costs of servicing residential developments with infrastructure such as water, wastewater, school, transport, community services and parks.

The study looked at twelve case studies and found the cost for providing infrastructure to greenfield residential development was estimated to be more expensive than for infill developments.

The committee agreed to receive the report and note its findings. The report will be circulated to local boards.

A summary of the study and its conclusions is available as an attachment to the committee agenda on the council website.

Item 11: C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group - Auckland Council membership

The committee received a report proposing an Auckland application for membership to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) is a strategic global network of cities taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks.

Councillors discussed the need for there to be further work done on the membership proposal around clarifying on-going costs and benefits and how it fits with council’s involvement in other environmental bodies. The committee voted to defer the item pending more work in-depth work to be done on the proposed application.

Item 12: Exchange of reserve land proposal - Three Kings Quarry and PA372

The committee received a report outlining a process to approve a land exchange proposal under the Reserves Act 1977, including a process for public consultation throughout April, engagement with adjoining owners and iwi, and continuing negotiations with Fletcher Residential Limited.

The committee heard from the Puketapapa Local Board who raised some concerns about the need for more consultation, access to the Maunga and alignment with the Three Kings Plan.

The committee agreed to a further report being provided to the Puketapapa Local Board and iwi to outline the land exchange proposal for consultation and on how it aligns with the Three Kings Plan.

It was also agreed that consultation with the public would occur throughout April and the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Auckland Development Committee and the Local Board will work together in March and April on areas of concern to the local board with respect to a potential land exchange proposal.

A further report will be made to the Auckland Development Committee will be made after consultation is concluded.

Ends

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