HANDS OFF OUR PARADES! And an update on intensification and granny flats

Auckland Transport’s proposals for parking changes in Devonport

AT has sent out ‘have your say notices’ to Devonport residents asking for feedback on its proposed changes to introduce paid parking in central Devonport.

While residents will have their own views on the issue Devonport Heritage is most concerned about AT’s intention to install parking pay machines on King Edward Parade from Buchanan to Church Street and right along Queens Parade.

These two streets form the most highly valued heritage waterfront precinct in Auckland.

They are covered by the Special Character Area overlay in the Auckland Unitary Plan because of their huge significance to the heritage streetscape of Devonport.

The proposal will mean these beautiful waterfront parades will each have five pay parking machines dispersed along them as well as numerous signs warning of the parking charges.

The pay machines and signs will have a hugely detrimental impact on these superb promenades which at present are almost completely free of such intrusions.

King Edward Parade in particular, is an enormously popular walking route for visitors to North Head and Cheltenham as well as a providing prized spots for picnics on the grassy verges.

We believe this is a form of visual pollution that will permanently clutter the waterfront and is completely unacceptable in an area of such high heritage value.

It will have a major adverse impact on the most beautiful historic waterfront in Auckland and we urge you to go online to ‘have your say’ and ask that AT revises its proposal.

Please go to: haveyoursay.at.govt/destination-devonport

Intensification Update

The much-scorned Plan Change 78 that would bring intensification to Auckland and parts of Devonport has been postponed for at least a year and may be gone for good.

The Government finally agreed that the Medium Density Residential Standards legislation was impossible to implement in Auckland while crucial flooding planning was on-going.

Everyone who cares about Auckland’s Special Character Areas gave a sigh of relief and hope that planning in the city will be left to Auckland Council and not central government in future.

However Housing Minister Chris Bishop has now proposed that large granny flats can be built without resource consent on all residential sites in the country.

This means that granny flats could be built in front yards without adhering to special character rules. At present our rules prevent additions and buildings in front yards that obscure heritage houses and features.

Knowing Chris Bishop’s disregard for heritage we have no confidence he will respect the Special Character rules that have been in place in Devonport for 30 years.

It may yet again be a case of central government over-riding the democratic process of local councils and ignoring environmental and heritage concerns.

If you care about this issue you can make a submission and the deadline is 12 August so go to:

https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/grannyflats

So, two chances of ‘having your say’ means there’s a lot of homework to do!

Margot McRae
Chairperson