ARC applauds Environment Court decision at Bayswater
9 March 2009

The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) is applauding a decision by the Environment Court that effectively prevents a proposed residential development on reclamation adjacent to Bayswater Marina.

Bayswater Marina Holdings Limited (BML), the owners of the adjacent marina, hold a lease over the main reclamation and wanted to create a special purpose zone to allow for the development of more than 250 residential apartments.

BML had lodged an appeal with the Environment Court against North Shore City Council’s (NSCC) proposed variation to its district plan designed to maintain the community and marina-oriented focus of the Bayswater reclamation.

The ARC supported NSCC at Environment Court hearings held in November 2008 and January 2009. Last week the Environment Court ruled to uphold NSCC’s proposed planning provision.

Cr Paul Walbran, Chair of the ARC’s Regional Strategy and Planning Committee says the debate over the appropriate use of the land has continued for more than a decade.

“North Shore City Council’s proposed plan change aims to provide an ‘open community oriented place with a focus on recreation, public transport and boating activities’. In contrast BML proposed a ‘mixed use area’ that was predominantly residential in nature.

“The ARC has consistently opposed the type of high density residential development envisaged by BML on this reclamation on the grounds that it had the potential to ‘crowd out’ other important uses of the reclamation, particularly marine related commercial activities and public access to and recreational use of the coastal environment.

“We are very pleased that the Environment Court has maintained the basis on which the original consent for the reclamation was granted, that is, for recreation and public open space rather than apartment buildings,” said Cr Walbran.

ENDS

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