Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown blasts fast-track approval for Ōrewa development
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says the decision to green-light a 1217 home development on the outskirts of Ōrewa makes a “mockery” of the fast-track law and should be abandoned.
“The fast-track is just another disaster from the Government - they’ve got eight years to do something with it. What’s fast about that?” Brown told the Herald.
“If they build it within six months, it’s fast-track, I’ve got no problem with it. But [to] fast-track to these [developments] eight years away is just taking away [the] council’s job.”
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed the fast-track panel has approved plans for the 1200-home Delmore development near Ōrewa, which has attracted heavy criticism from Brown and councillors, as well as residents.
The fast-track panel clarified plans for water and wastewater at the development after concerns were raised about effluent being trucked off-site, potentially to Whangārei.
Vineway Limited plans to build 1217 homes, a commercial area, two neighbourhood parks, a network of protected ecological areas and construct a State Highway 1 interchange.
“The project is predicted to contribute $1.22 billion to the local economy over 25 years, as well as to ecological restoration through the management of approximately 44 hectares of indigenous vegetation and creation of new wetland environments,” Bishop said.
“The independent expert panel found the project will deliver significant regional benefits and has granted the approvals sought, subject to a comprehensive set of conditions.”
Water and wastewater services have been a key issue of contention.
“Given constraints on existing public infrastructure, the applicant has proposed privately providing water supply and wastewater services through facilities designed to meet the development’s needs and allow for future expansion,” Bishop says.
“For the first stage of the development, wastewater will be treated and discharged on site, with treated wastewater transported off-site during summer periods when necessary.
“Before the second stage of the development can proceed, the applicant will be required to obtain further approvals for a long-term wastewater solution, including on-site disposal, continued transport off-site, or connection to the public network if capacity becomes available.
“The panel concluded the proposed wastewater treatment and disposal system is technically feasible, can meet the needs of future residents and community facilities and will appropriately manage off-site effects through the consent conditions.”
Watercare has made it clear it cannot connect any services to the site before 2033 and potentially until at least 2050.
Brown is particularly outraged about the lack of water infrastructure for the project and the potential for effluent to be transported offsite.
There had been early discussions with Whangarei council about tankering the water there, but nothing has been finalised.
“Everything about that is amateur, pathetic and stupid,” Brown said.
“I don’t know what I can do about it. I’m just hoping that the Government realises they got this wrong.”
Brown has actively opposed out-of-sequence growth and greenfield development.
He believes the council and Watercare will end up picking up issues with water and transport down the track.
Auckland Council believes it’s missing out on about $50-80 million in development contributions because the project has legally skirted the usual consent processes.
“They’re dreaming. We’ve worked out the real cost of servicing it, and the thing about trucking [wastewater] in summer is just a joke beyond belief.
“They’re saying they’re going to build it and we’ve got to put up with growth in the wrong places, but they definitely won’t pay for it. You just watch,” Brown warned.
“Are they paying for the sports fields that those people inevitably want, the libraries they’re going to inevitably want, the schools they’re going to inevitably want? No, no, no.”
Neighbour Jon Mason was worried about the environmental impact of the development.
The 80-page approval document from the fast-track panel lays out myriad conditions for the development.
They include building an on-site wastewater treatment plant and stormwater discharge system, keeping indigenous vegetation and building other infrastructure such as retaining walls, communal rain gardens and water pumps.
The developers will have to build new roads to help manage traffic.
The approval documents show that while some residents oppose the development, others have said yes to it.
Auckland Council is now considering its options.
But there are limited appeal options due to the nature of the fast-track law.
“I’m just going to appeal to the Government and say, ‘This is beyond stupid. You’ve got it wrong’,” Brown says.
Delmore is the 30th fast-track project to be approved under the regime, about half of which are housing developments.
Residents in other parts of the country are also upset about fast-track developments, including in Waimauku West and Queenstown.
The Herald has sought comment from the developers.
Katie Bradford is a Senior Correspondent at the Herald. She has been a broadcast journalist for over 20 years and was based in the press gallery for 10 years. She specialises in politics, business and Auckland issues.