Feedback from the Ōrākei Local Board of the Comprehensive Care Retirement Village Expert Consenting Panel Draft Conditions 5 May 2021

Ōrākei Local Board of the Expert Consenting Panel proposed draft conditions

The Ōrākei Local Board does not support the proposal by Ryman Healthcare Limited to construct a retirement village in Kohimarama in its current form and requests that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) decline the application. This has been consistent with Local Board feedback on 30 September 2020 to Council and more recently to the EPA on 18 March 2021. 1. On initial read of the draft conditions document – it is not apparent how many draft conditions are being outlined. There are references to conditions marked with an x (presumably not assigned a number) – page 7 para 5 c and then more specific conditions with assigned numbering – page 9 para 8. 2. We acknowledge the specific point in the supplementary minute dated 28 April 2021 that the overall visual and dominance effects will not be able to be mitigated by conditions. It follows on to state that the Panel could approve a consent for something less than the applicant has applied for. The Orakei Local Board maintain a consistent line – the compliance to the thresholds and levels specified in the Unitary Plan is unconditional. 3. The draft conditions appear to address the period pre-construction and during construction. There are references Construction Noise and Vibration and Construction Traffic Management Plans – which were outlined in the AEE suite of documents. However, the Local Board is still concerned with the after effects of post construction – the massive traffic build up along Kohimarama Road with several newly constructed apartments, two major schools, a large shopping centre and an arterial route for commercial haulage vehicles to and from the port. It appears that collaborative planning of traffic flows with AT has not been prescribed as a condition – but should be. 4. In the draft conditions - Clauses 27 and 31 enable construction noise and activity that starts too early through the week and weekend. There should be no construction activity before 8am weekdays, 9am Saturdays, and there should be no construction activity at all Sunday 5. There is reference to the Community Liaison Group (page 8) comprising the consent holder and Kohi Neighbours Incorporated. The Local Board is an elected team who represent the wider community of Orakei and is a key stakeholder for advocating the governance principles and adherence to appropriate regulation and legislation. The Local Board should be represented on the Community Liaison Group. 6. The draft conditions are silent about the Pourewa Creek. As highlighted in the AEE report (p43- Section 4.2.5) the proposed retirement village will require the discharge of stormwater to an existing stormwater network (being the stormwater network that conveys stormwater under John Rymer Place and discharges to a tributary of the Pourewa Creek. Some condition to prescribe full testing and capacity to handle the volume of discharge is required. 7. Conditions need to be considered with the Local Board’s plans for the Pourewa Valley, Kepa Bush and Glen Innes to Shared Path. In reference to the latter, there are intentions to build links to the shared path through John Rymer Place. Any retirement village construction needs to integrate the environmental and structural headwind that an additional link through John Rymer Place may incorporate.