New rules for the ranges
Land in the Waitakere Ranges remains protected from subdivision – even though the activity is no longer ’’prohibited’’.
When the Auckland Unitary Plan was passed this month councillors voted to make it a ’’non-complying’’ activity instead.
‘‘Looking at social media, a lot of people have been saying this opens the door for subdivision in the ranges,’’ Waitakere councillor Penny Hulse says.
‘‘It actually doesn’t.’’
Properties are still subject to controls in the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Act, she says.
‘‘We’ve still got the same level of protection. You actually have to go through a plan change, which is a pretty complex and difficult process.’’
Despite this, Hulse voted against the change, as did councillor Mike Lee.
Waitakere councillor Linda Cooper says she and councillor Ross Clow were not present for the vote due to a conflict of interest being presidents of the two west Auckland licensing trusts, Portage and Waitakere.
‘‘It could be interpreted that The Trusts might gain an advantage by any changes to the planning rules,’’ she says.
Cooper says she shares the concerns of many people in west Auckland about the changes but has a ‘‘small measure of comfort’’ that there are still ‘‘huge obstacles to any development’’. Anybody who manages to meet the 21 objectives of the act as well as any Significant Ecological Area requirements will have ‘‘tough planting conditions’’, she says.
‘‘Reflecting another point of view from many land owners on the low lying foothills, the changes will mean that a small measure of their property rights are returned to them. For example, the ability for only a small handful of longstanding west Auckland families to apply to subdivide an unproductive orchard or vineyard to realise a modest sum to support them in their retirement after decades of toiling on their land.’’
The ranges were previously covered by a precinct but this has been removed in favour of two zones the Waitakere Ranges zone and the Waitakere Foothills zone.
Auckland Council finished passing the Auckland Unitary Plan on August 15. It was notified on August 19, and any appeals have to be lodged by September 16.