Media Statement from: Roskill Community Voice
“The proposal to build a “The Warehouse” on Pah Rd is ill-considered, and locals are rightly voicing their strong concern. It is heartening to see the official Council report also recommends it be declined,” says Julie Fairey, Roskill Community Voice member on the Puketapapa Local Board.
The Hearing Agenda for the resource consent was released on Monday 7th February, with Auckland Council’s planning consultant recommending that the application be declined, and almost universal opposition from submitters.
Of the 23 submissions, 21 oppose the application, while the remaining 2 are neutral. Those submitting against include the James Wallace Arts Trust, the Onehunga Business Association, and the Parks, Sport and Recreation department of the Auckland Council. All local residents who submitted on the proposal indicated they opposed it.
“Objections raised by locals include concerns about traffic, noise, inadequate parking, vegetation and flooding risk. The proposal breaches a number of existing planning documents, and is out of character with the neighbourhood. It seems likely that the proposal would have a negative impact not only for local residents but also for those who use Seymour Park as well as nearby shopping centres at Royal Oak, Three Kings and Onehunga,” says Michael Wood, Roskill Community Voice member on the Puketapapa Local Board.
“Residents who have talked to us have spoken of existing problems with parking, traffic, noise and poor planning in the area. They wish to have these issues resolved, not exacerbated by the incompatible arrival of a ‘big box’ retail development in their neighbourhood,” says Fairey.
“We are aware that many other locals oppose this development but missed out on an opportunity to submit to the resource consent process. We hope they will take the opportunity to sign the petition circulating, and we aim to assist them to have their voice heard. Given the planner’s recommendation and the high level of local opposition, the independent commissioners must decline this application,” says Wood.
ENDS
Contacts: Julie Fairey, [email protected], 021 287 9900
Michael Wood, [email protected], 027 547 1926
Background: The proposal to build a “The Warehouse” retail store, with associated carparking and additional retail tenancies and road changes, has been undertaken by Eldamos Investments. The sites the development would cover are 100 Pah Rd (formerly the site of the Holeproof factory), 677, 677A and 679 Mount Albert Rd. The total retail floor area would be 7500m2, with carparking less than the minimum required under current regulations.
The resource consent notification for this proposal was notified on November 5th 2010. It did not go in City Scene, as past notifications of this nature would have, because City Scene was no longer being published as a result of the Auckland Council amalgamation which took effect on November 1st 2010. Roskill Community Voice leafleted approximately 500 local households in early December 2010 to encourage public submissions, whether for, against or neutral. We were surprised to discover that many locals did not know about the resource consent at all, or The Warehouse’s plans. This was only a matter of a few days before submissions closed on December 10th. With the assistance of Councillor Cathy Casey, we sought an extension to the submission deadline, however this was declined by the CEO of Auckland Council. Given the high level of contact we received from locals on this issue we organised a public meeting in the area to gain broader community feedback on the proposal. In mid December 2010 over 70 people attended this public meeting about the proposal and voted unanimously to oppose it. In late January 2011 Roskill Community Voice began circulating a petition amongst local residents, opposing the development.
Julie Fairey, Board Member, Puketapapa Local Board (Auckland Council),
Ph 09 620 9257, Mob 021 287 9900, Em [email protected]
Twt @juliefairey, http://www.roskillcv.org.nz