Letter to the Editor

 

Corruption or incompetence?
So, do you like your enchanting views of the Mangawhai estuary? Well enjoy because it’s not going to last. The height restriction was lifted despite objections. It may be the last time Matariki may be observed in the night sky without light pollution. A residential home in the form of a lighthouse is coming to town and is currently under construction.

According to the Kaipara District Plan the building height restriction is 8m. An application for a height exemption was opposed by KDC and affected immediate neighbours for the construction of a 12m private lighthouse-style home. Despite its height, its width is 6m at the base with a further 3 stories at 5.5m not including the width of walk-around balconies. The upper level of this 4 storey lighthouse is almost 50% over the maximum height limit. This will be the tallest building near an estuary in the entire community of Mangawhai. Yet, the ruling by KDC was overturned by the appointed commissioner at a separate hearing on 12 June 2015, Kaipara District Council, Resource Consent 140133. 

Tern Point is a semi-rural, farm-like gated development adjacent to the estuary and wildlife refuge. Indeed, how many farms have a lighthouse? Lighthouses are found on the coast, off deep water. Not on a farm up an estuary! It is inconsistent with the associated environment. This 12m construction will dominate the current delightful estuary views of residents along Moir Point Road, Lincoln and Devon Streets including the new subdivision at Mangawhai Point not forsaking areas of the hinterland. In this respect the development should have been publicly notified.
There are further points to consider.

The development is adjacent to a wildlife refuge, the home of the endangered fairy tern. As the human population grows consuming resources at voracious rates, we are crowding out this species into extinction. In this respect numbers of fairy terns have significantly decreased over the years and is well documented. Surely, any deviation to the District Plan regarding height in this instance, especially a tower lit up at night and in close proximity to a wildlife refuge should have been a red flag to the commissioner. Furthermore, was DOC not notified and given the opportunity for comment?

The applicant petitioned that this 12m high, 6m wide lighthouse-style development will be their dream retirement home. Furthermore, the applicant declared that should KDC and immediate neighbours continue to object the application for a height exemption then an alternative 8m high, 4000 sqm commercial or industrial style building sited much closer to the neighbour’s boundary would be constructed. What? Isn’t the point of the submission to build their dream, nautical retirement home? This assertion defies the alleged petition.

The ruling made on 12 June 2015 by the commissioner is inconsistent with the objectives, policies and assessment criteria of the District Plan. His decision to overturn KDC’s ruling in this instance is most disturbing. These kinds of decisions do tend to make local ratepayers mutter the word ‘corruption’ even if it may be unfounded.

Claudia Fletcher
Mangawhai