Last Chance To Have Your Say on Auckland Council Proposals!
Spokesperson McRae
Here is a Guide to the feedback form.
It is vitally important for everyone who cares about Devonport’s heritage protections, to fill in the feedback form on Auckland Council’s housing density proposals.
The deadline for this is midnight Monday 9 May.
The form is at: akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/housing
Scroll down to Have Your Say and then click on Complete Form
The multiple choice answers are not always helpful so below we have produced a guide to help you fill in the form. The asterix (*) is where we have added our words.
Feel free to write as much as you like under the ‘Tell Us Why’ section.
And remember, below is a guide only, don’t fill it in.
Please send in your feedback because this is our best chance to save the heritage areas of Devonport and Auckland!
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Here are the questions you will find in the council’s Feedback Form.
What do you think of our proposed walkable catchment of 1200 metres from the edge of the city centre?
*This does not apply to Devonport because it is not a walkable catchment. You could state under Tell Us Why – that Auckland already has enough capacity for higher density housing.
Support
Do not support - I think it should be further
Do not support - I think it should be closer
Other
I don't know
What do you think of our proposed walkable catchment of 800 metres from the edge of the metropolitan centres?
*Again this does not apply to Devonport. You could state that Auckland already has enough capacity for higher density housing.
Support
Do not support - I think it should be further
Do not support - I think it should be closer
Other
I don’t know
What do you think of our proposed walkable catchment of 800 metres around rapid transit stops?
*This does not apply to Devonport but aims to encourage housing density near rapid transport.
Support
Do not support - I think it should be further
Do not support - I think it should be closer
Other
I don’t know
What do you think of our proposal to apply the Terrace Housing and Apartment Buildings Zone to residential areas up to around 400 metres from large town centres with high accessibility?
*This doesn’t apply to Devonport as it is a small town centre. You could oppose this if you think Auckland already has the capacity for more housing.
Support
Do not support - I think it should be further
Do not support - I think it should be closer
Other
I don’t know
What do you think of our proposal to apply the Terrace Housing and Apartment Buildings zone to residential areas up to around 200 metres from small town centres or large local centres with high accessibility?
*This DOES apply to Devonport and we do not support this. You should tick number 4 ‘Other’ then give your reasons below.
Support
Do not support - I think it should be further
Do not support - I think it should be closer
Other
I don’t know
Tell us why
*Devonport is an historic village and the application of the Policy 3d here would be highly destructive of the area’s heritage character. It would mean eight of the area’s oldest streets would be under threat of having five storey buildings in their midst.
I reject the Policy 3d applying to this area of Devonport as it creates a conflict between zoning and special character overlays, whereas the current zoning and overlays are consistent in their support for heritage matters.
What do you think of our proposal to include identified special character areas as a qualifying matter?
*This applies to Devonport and all the city’s historic areas. Click 2 if you think ALL special character areas in Auckland should be a qualifying matter. Give your reasons below.
Support
Do not support – I think all existing special character areas should be a qualifying matter
Do not support – I do not think special character areas should be a qualifying matter
Other
I don’t know
Tell us why
*The older areas of Auckland with their timber cottages, villas and bungalows, embody the history of the city and give Auckland its identity. This unique character should not be sacrificed for intensive housing especially as the character overlay covers only 3.6% of the city’s housing. Therefore it will have little impact on the housing shortage. The council has an obligation under section 6 of the RMA to protect heritage and this must not be ignored for the sake of rezoning for housing intensification. The older housing stock was built from the country’s native trees and once gone can never be replaced.
What do you think of the proposed residential special character areas that we have identified?
* This applies to Devonport as there are some parts that are being proposed to lose their special character area protection. Tick number 2 and fill in reasons below.
Support
Do not support – I think there are more areas that should be identified as a qualifying matter
Do not support – I think there are areas that should not be identified as a qualifying matter
Do not support – I do not think special character areas should be a qualifying matter
Other
I don't know
Tell us why
* I oppose the deletion of parts of Vauxhall Road and Grove Road and Wairoa Road from the SCA. This area has a high number of heritage houses and is a well-established and coherent area. Because of the underlying coastal inundation and erosion overlays, the removal of the special character area will result in a patchy, pepper-potting style of development with bulky three storey houses built amongst the older homes. This will have a detrimental impact on the character of the area especially as it relates to the historic site of Fort Takapuna.
I also oppose the proposed boundary of the Stanley Point Road area that is to be deleted from the special character area. This is because the houses at numbers 47,49, 51, 59, 61A, 65, 67 and 74 Stanley Point Road should remain in the SCA as they contribute strongly to the heritage character of the area. Special note should be made for 74 Stanley Point Road. This well-preserved bungalow was built for Cyril Bassett, the only New Zealand soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross at Gallipoli. He lived here until his death and it is therefore an important part of the area’s, and the nation’s, social history and is of considerable importance.
Together these houses form a coherent and distinct character area that deserves continuation in the SCA.
You could add that you oppose the loss of other parts of the SCAs from around Auckland like – Remuera, St Mary’s Bay, Mission Bay, St Heliers, Freemans Bay, Parnell, Birkenhead, and Northcote Point.
What do you think of the proposed business special character areas that we have identified?
*This affects Devonport’s Victoria Road shopping area. Tick 5 ‘Other’ and fill out reasons below
Support
Do not support – I think more areas or parts of areas should be identified as a qualifying matter
Do not support – I think less areas should be identified as a qualifying matter
Do not support – I do not think special character areas should be a qualifying matter
Other
I don't know
Tell us why
*Devonport’s Victoria Road is one of the most intact historic,* commercial streets in the country, bookended by Windsor Reserve and the Esplanade at the south and the Victoria Theatre and Mt Victoria/Takarunga to the north. It is a widely recognised, outstanding historic area, much valued by the community and a major visitor attraction. For this reason it should be made an Historic Heritage Area to ensure it is protected and managed for future generations.
What do you think of our proposal to include areas in Auckland with long-term significant infrastructure constraints as a qualifying matter?
* This applies to the whole city and is a way for the council to control the rate of intensification to areas where the infrastructure can cope. Tick 1 for support.
Support
Do not support
Other
I don't know
Tell us why
*Intensification should only occur in areas where the infrastructure can cope. The Auckland Unitary Plan already identifies areas where intensification can occur and this provides the blueprint for future development. This should be adhered to for any further intensification.
Other qualifying matters
We are also proposing to include a number of other overlays and controls in the Auckland Unitary Plan as qualifying matters that limit the height and density of development on sites or across areas to retain the values they reflect. A description of these proposed qualifying matters and how they are proposed to be protected or kept is shown in the consultation document and information sheets available on akhaveyoursay.nz/housing.
These additional qualifying matters include:
Ridgeline Protection Overlay
Local Public Views Overlay
Auckland War Memorial Museum Viewshaft
Stockade Hill Viewshaft
Character buildings in City Centre zone and Queen Street Valley Precinct
Some of the existing built form controls in City Centre (e.g. allowing sunlight into public places, Aotea Square height control).
Do you have feedback on any other qualifying matters? (please be clear which proposal you are talking about)
*I agree with all the present overlays and controls being qualifying matters. In relation to Devonport I support the volcanic cone viewshaft overlay and the height sensitive overlay being a qualifying matter.