12 September 2006
Bunnings to apply for plan change
Bunnings have announced their decision to withdraw their resource consent application, and are planning to lodge an
application for a private Plan Change to change the zoning of the proposed site for the store.
All submitters have been advised of the withdrawal of the resource consent application and of Bunnings’ intention to
apply for a Plan Change.
“The application for the Plan Change, like the resource consent, will be a fully publicly notified and transparent
process and all interested parties will have the opportunity to submit on the various issues,” the Council’s Team Leader
Resource Consents, Trevor Garnett said.
In the advice to the Council of the decision to withdraw the application, Bunnings’ consultant pointed out that a number
of factors had changed since it was first made.
“After the closing date for submissions, the new owners of Paraparaumu Airport announced plans for a proposed
redevelopment of the airport site. This may result in significant changes to the local environment in the vicinity of
the proposed Bunnings site: for example, possible changes to the local traffic environment, and airport operations.”
The Council is also updating its traffic model so it takes account of the likely impacts of airport and other
developments on traffic flows and to ensure the design of the Western Link Road takes those into account. Once the
modelling work is completed (towards the end of 2006) a more accurate assessment of the traffic issues in that part of
Paraparaumu will be possible.
None of these issues were likely to be clarified until after the proposed hearing date for the Bunnings application
(September 26/27), the consultants said and, therefore, the resource consent application was withdrawn.
Bunnings will, however, continue with background work for the lodgement of a Plan Change application to change the
zoning of the current open space land to residential zone on the southern portion of the site and industrial-service
zone on the northern portion.
No date has been given for when the Plan Change application will be made but it will be publicly advertised and
notified.
ENDS