Residents say no to council
A residents’ group is appealing plans for a retirement complex on Auckland’s North Shore comparing it to a ‘‘prsion’’.
Ryman Healthcare obtained a resource consent to construct a 600-bed, six storey, retirement village in the historic seaside suburb of Devonport in January.
With over 300 submissions opposing the development because of its huge scale and unvaried design, the Devonport Peninsula Precincts Society has decided to appeal Auckland Council’s resource consent decision.
The precincts society is made up of local residents on Auckland’s North Shore spearheaded by Devonport resident Iain Rea.
‘‘This should be of concern, not just to the residents of Takapuna-Devonport, but all Aucklanders.’’
One of the three independent hearing commissioners deciding on Ryman’s resource consent application to build on a 4.2 hectare plot on Ngataringa Rd did not support the proposal but it was passed on a majority.
Commissioner Dave Serjeant says, in the resource consent report, he does not support the scale of three of the six buildings which contain living apartments.
‘‘Ryman’s choice of large buildings must be seen as driven mainly by cost, at the expense of responding to the precinct ‘description’,’’ Serjeant says.
A statement from Ryman Healthcare managing director Simon Challies says while Ryman’s was disappointed by the appeal, they remain absolutely committed to building in Devonport.
‘‘We prepared a robust proposal, which received consent, and we are confident we can work through the issues raised in the appeal,’’ Challies says.
The Ryman’s complex will include six buildings, the tallest six storeys, and 269 car parks. It will be constructed on top of the archeological site of the old Duder Brickworks built in 1875. During the resource consent hearing, Grey Power, 50-plus advocacy group, national president Tom O’Connor says designs for the complex are so big it would socially isolate residents.