Roskill Community Voice Media Release
4 April 2016

Three Kings Alternative Plan would deliver better housing yield, better open space, and rehabilitation of maunga for the Three Kings area

“An alternative development plan for Three Kings released by the Puketapapa Local Board shows that there is a better way to develop the Three Kings Quarry area than the ‘hole in the ground’ currently being forced through by Fletchers, Auckland Council, and central government”, says Michael Wood on behalf of the majority Roskill Community Voice group on the Board.

“The Local Board has released initial findings on potential housing yield and zoning recommendations for the Three Kings quarry area from noted landscape architect Richard Reid."

"The initial findings show:
· That through an enhanced filling plan and the construction of 3-5 storey terraced housing and apartment buildings; there is a possible yield of 1250 units in the current Three Kings Quarry area.

· That this yield in the quarry area is less than, but very near to, that provided by Fletchers proposed 10-11 storey ‘cascading apartments’ due to a more efficient use of space, including below ground parking.

· That more efficient use of space and an enhanced filling plan enables a green buffer to be created against Big King/Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta, protecting the values of the maunga.

· That providing improved residential yield in the quarry area allows for an enhanced and increased public open space network including five sports fields (as compared to three in the Fletchers plan), and an enhanced area of passive open space from Three Kings Reserve through to Western Park. Total open space increases from 7.83 h to 12.24h.

· That a more efficient housing typology in the quarry area allows for the provision of 1000m2 of communal open space per apartment building, compared to no communal open space in the Fletchers plan.

· That increased public open space and communal space will better support other development opportunities in the surrounding area.

· That an enhanced filling plan supports a less auto-dependent development with total road reserve area reducing from 4.52h to 1.92h, the number of outlets to distribute traffic increased from three to seven, reduced inclines supporting walking and cycling options for residents, and an increase in the number of dedicated cycle ways"

"Overall, Mr Reid’s findings suggest that significant residential yield is possible on the former quarry site, while better enhancing Big King/Te Tatua a Riukiuta maunga, and providing an improved open space network. Terraced housing and apartments can simply be built on Fletchers quarry land without the need for the controversial land exchange proposal to proceed."

"The Fletchers proposal is fatally flawed. After a century of quarrying away the Three Kings volcanoes, it further undermines the one remaining cone, Big King/Te Tatua a Riukiuta. Independent planning advice also criticises the Fletchers plan’s poor pedestrian and cycle connections for not being “direct or legible” due to “the depth of the quarry”, which at its lowest point will be nineteen metres lower than Mt Eden Rd."

"It is a disgrace that Auckland Council and central government have ganged up to try and force the flawed Fletchers plan on the Three Kings community. Mr Reid’s alternative plan shows that with a quality design we can build a significant number of medium density houses while respecting our precious volcanic landscape, providing high quality open space, and creating an excellent urban environment."

"We will be fighting for the Three Kings community to be heard and for Mr Reid’s alternative plan to receive a fair hearing. We need a quality design that delivers housing and first class environmental outcomes” says Mr Wood.

ENDS

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