Manukau City Council has finalised negotiations with the Howick & Eastern Bus Company and have purchased the old depot site in Picton Street.

The purchase of the property will put an end to the fight to protect the views from Stockade Hill.

Mayor of Manukau, Sir Barry Curtis is extremely pleased to confirm the purchase of the site. “Because of the efforts of residents, staff, councillors and the property owner, a significant visual feature of Howick has been preserved. We have listened to the concerns of the Howick community and have a very positive outcome for the City as a whole.

Council officers will be talking to the current tenant about what further involvement the tenant would like with the site.

“We anticipate that the existing use of the site will continue while Council prepares its own plans for the site” says Sir Barry.

ENDS

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Background
Part of the Picton Street, Howick property lies within a viewshaft that has maximum height controls for buildings or structures set under Council’s Proposed District Plan. Viewshafts protect significant public views from public places such as reserves or roads.

The Bus Company had appealed against these controls to the Environment Court so that the height limit could be raised to get a higher sale price. In negotiating the appeal, Council prepared Variation 10 to the Proposed District Plan to replace the existing viewshaft with two new complementary viewshafts. Following consideration of submissions to the Variation (including 178 in opposition), Council withdrew Variation 10.

At that hearing, a number of submitters asked Council to consider the purchase of the land for public open space purposes. Since March Council officers have been negotiating with the bus company and they have recently reached a purchase agreement.

At the vendor’s request, the purchase price and other terms of the agreement will remain confidential for six months from the settlement date.

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