Before the Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel
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BEFORE THE AUCKLAND UNITARY PLAN INDEPENDENT HEARINGS PANEL IN THE MATTER of the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010 AND IN THE MATTER of Topic 017 RUB South AND IN THE MATTER of the submissions and further submissions set out in the Parties and Issues Report JOINT STATEMENT OF EVIDENCE OF VRINDA MOGHE, DANNI BRIGGS AND JOY LA NAUZE ON BEHALF OF AUCKLAND COUNCIL (URBAN EDGE – FLATBUSH, HOWICK - EAST TAMAKI, POINT VIEW DRIVE, MANGERE, FAVONA, OTAHUHU AND HINGAIA) 15 OCTOBER 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 2 2. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 5 3. CODE OF CONDUCT .................................................................................................... 5 4. SCOPE .......................................................................................................................... 6 5. REZONING .................................................................................................................... 7 6. SUB-GROUP 1 HOWICK – EAST TAMAKI: POINT VIEW DRIVE ................................. 7 7. SUB-GROUP 2 – FLAT BUSH ..................................................................................... 17 8. SUB-GROUP 3 - MANGERE, FAVONA AND OTAHUHU ............................................ 24 9. SUB-GROUP 4 - HINGAIA .......................................................................................... 29 10. CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE PAUP ................ 36 11. CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 36 Page 1 1. SUMMARY 1.1 Our names are Vrinda Moghe, Danni Briggs and Joy LaNauze. We are planners at Auckland Council (Council). Our evidence addresses Rural Urban Boundary (RUB) submissions that have been grouped into the "Urban Edge" group of submissions. Reasons for grouping these areas together has been discussed in the joint statement of evidence of Mr Trevor Watson, Mr Peter Vari and Mr Eryn Shields. Howick- East Tamaki 1.2 Several submitters have sought an expansion to the existing eastern urban edge along Point View Drive. 1.3 The proposed RUB follows the 2010 Metropolitan Urban Limit (MUL) in this location, with the exception of one property at 178 Point View Drive, that was included within the proposed RUB at the time of notification of the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP). 1.4 Submitters consider expanding the urban area along the Point View Drive section of the ridgeline will lead to efficient use of land and provide for additional residential development in the region. 1.5 Submissions have also been received on amending the proposed RUB to the 2010 MUL i.e. excluding 178 Point View Drive from the urban area. Submitters consider inclusion of this property within the RUB has set a precedent of urban development in the area that could have an adverse impact on the surrounding rural uses. 1.6 The Council’s landscape expert witness Ms Rebecca Skidmore is of the view that the elevated area under consideration acts as an effective buffer to the more intensively developed urban corridor to the west and the rural uses to the east. In addition to the topography, established large scale vegetation assists dwellings to integrate with the surrounding landscape and visually reinforces the ridgeline when viewed from the west. She considers that from a landscape and urban design perspective, the location of the RUB as notified will maintain the buffer and backdrop to the urban environment. I agree with the conclusions of Ms Skidmore. 1.7 No information has been provided by the submitters on the potential transport infrastructure effects. Auckland Transport (AT) has indicated that urbanisation of the Page 2 area will require the upgrade of Point View Drive from a rural to urban standard. This would be a reasonably significant investment for the relatively low yield of residential development achieved. 1.8 Consequently, I consider the notified RUB along Point View Drive to be the most appropriate location to achieve the objectives of B2.1 and B2.2 of the RPS that seek to promote a compact urban form and a quality built environment. Flat Bush 1.9 A number of submitters have sought expansion of the urban area of Flat Bush (over countryside living areas) that was informed by extensive planning processes in the 2000s. 1.10 Submitters seeking the expansion state that there is additional land which is capable of urban development in the catchment. The submitters identify the area as an ideal location for accommodating part of the region’s urban population and consider that the PAUP has not given sufficient regard to the efficient use and development of the future urban land or to the supply of housing in Auckland which will result in unacceptable delays in the release of land. 1.11 The Council’s landscape expert witness Ms Rebecca Skidmore is of the view the elevated topography and the vegetation patterns in the area, assisted by the lower intensity residential environment within the Countryside Living zone, reinforces the landscape value of this area and provides a backdrop to the more intensively developing urban environment in the lowlands to the west. Ms Skidmore and Mr Hillier (the Council’s expert witness on geotechnical matters) note deeply dissected gullies within the upper catchment and associated geotechnical constraints that prohibit urban densities to be located within the area. 1.12 Ms Skidmore supports the proposed RUB location in Flat Bush, as in her view the historic subdivision patterns will limit the potential for further development at an urban intensity to create a good urban structure. I agree with the conclusions of Ms Skidmore. 1.13 AT is of the view that urban expansion of Flat Bush into the upper catchment along the ridge would place considerable pressure on the surrounding roading network. 1.14 Urban expansion into the upper catchment will also lead to development within areas marked as conservation stormwater management policy areas. Urbanisation would Page 3 require a reconsideration of the stormwater management strategy for the entire Otara catchment as development within the upper catchment would lead to additional impervious surfaces and associated stormwater flows into the already urbanised lower catchments. 1.15 I consider retaining the notified RUB is the most appropriate way to achieve the objectives of B2.1 of the RPS as it supports a quality compact urban form with a clear defensible limit to urban expansion. Furthermore, the retention of the proposed RUB in this location protects a number of sensitive landscape features, including the Redoubt Road ridgeline, the streams and conservation stormwater management policy areas in the upper catchment, and the identified significant ecological areas from inappropriate development. 1.16 I consider the notified RUB is effective in providing certainty, particularly with regard to character and amenity outcomes, while promoting significant environmental protection and enhancement for wider community benefits. Mangere, Favona and Otahuhu 1.17 The Council received several submissions regarding the southern RUB, specifically within Mangere, Favona and Otahuhu. The location of the RUB in this area reflects the fairly recent Environment Court Decision of Gavin H Wallace Ltd & Ors v Auckland Council [2012] NZEnvC 120 on Plan Change 13 to the Auckland Regional Policy Statement (PC13) and Plan Change 14 to the Auckland Council District Plan (Manukau Section) (PC14), which were made operative in May 2013. 1.18 Submitters have sought minor alterations to the RUB in the Ihumatao area, to include or exclude land from the RUB. Inclusion of the Auckland International Airport designated land and the Rennie Homestead site (619 Oruarangi Road) in the RUB would create a clear and defensible boundary and remove isolated rural parcels. However, the exclusion of the property at 1 Oruarangi Road would isolate this parcel and would not create a clear defensible RUB I consider that this property should remain within the RUB. 1.19 There are two submissions which relate to properties well within the urban area seeking to either retain the situation where the RUB does not apply to the site or to include a RUB along the coastline. I consider that no change should be made to the RUB in these locations. Page 4 Hingaia 1.20 Three submitters support the RUB as notified. 1.21 One submission relates to Pararekau and Kopuahingahinga Islands and seeks to include them in the RUB. 1.22 I do not support the inclusion of Pararekau and Kopuahingahinga Islands within the RUB. As discussed in the evidence of the Council's landscape witness, Mr Peter Kensington, Pararekau and Kopuahingahinga Islands have a unique coastal and non- urban character and this should be retained. The islands are an important sensitive environment visually, environmentally, and culturally, and therefore differentiated from urban zoned land on the mainland. 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 This evidence is a joint statement prepared by Vrinda Moghe (Principal Planner), Danni Briggs (Planner) and Joy LaNauze (Principal Planner) for PAUP Topic 017 RUB South (Topic 017). This statement relates to the submissions received on the RUB that comprise the Urban Edge group of submissions. This includes: Howick- East Tamaki - Point View Drive (Sub-Group