Henderson Valley/Opanuku Local Area Plan ... - Auckland Council

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LPMA 2.GoldenWest Orchards (HV Block):Henderson Valley Road/Gum Road. Has potential for 6 new sites on 2 adjoining titles with noexisting dwellings (i.e. vacant).This property is generally bare of any significant native vegetation and is flat to rolling. It is almostfully planted in a number of varieties of apple trees, with implement sheds and access roads. Anumber of shelterbelts cross the property enclosing the orchard blocks.The Henderson Valley Road frontage of the site is assessed as being of Limited Sensitivity from alandscape perspective due to the existence of the shelterbelts screening the site from wider view,with the rear (towards Gum Rd) being of Elevated Sensitivity, because of its increasing elevation,and overlooking from higher slopes surrounding.The shelterbelts and at least some orcharding trees should be kept, to enable the visualscreening/absorption of any new development, as well as retain a semblance of rural activities. TheParemuka Stream running though the property would benefit from weed control and further nativerevegetation on its margins to supplement that already underway, particularly in the steeper gullyareas.The Foothills Walkway concept also identifies a connection through the property (following theParemuka Stream) from Gum Road to Henderson Valley Road.Figures 38-41: Various Images taken on and looking into the property: From top left, Clockwise:Looking towards Gum Road from near Parekura Stream; Level area in the centre of the propertylooking towards Gum Road; From Gum Road looking down the orchard rows to the OpanukuStream embankment; Orchard rows in one of the production blocks.Page 57 of 65
LPMA 3.Lockington and Lyon:10 Gum Road/Forest Hill Rd. 2 large, mostly pastoral blocks of just under 100Ha, with potential for24 sites @ 4Ha, with no existing dwellings (i.e. vacant).This site is subject to a District Plan appeal (Reference: RMA835/98) predating the WRHHA 2008,initially seeking a change to the Structure Plan rules to allow the provisions to apply to areas lessthan a whole Catchment. The scope of this appeal has since been narrowed to a site specificreference seeking 2Ha subdivision (enabling potentially 50 new sites). Accordingly this site isidentified both because an alternative approach is not only preferable, and because the matter isbefore Environment Court.Landscape analysis has identified that the broad, bald pastoral hills which dominate two separateviewing catchments are highly sensitive to change. It should also be noted that this key feature isnot presently identified in the District Plan as a Sensitive Ridgeline. A 4Ha or 2Ha minimum site sizeapproach would lead to a proliferation of highly visible buildings, mostly likely on or near theridgeline for views, access off the existing farm tracks and the slightly more level building platformsavailable on the hill crests. A number of tributaries of the Opanuku Stream (the McCleod andAnamata Streams) flow through the site but are denuded of riparian vegetation and are accessibleto the dry stock run on the property.The Foothills Walkway concept identifies as perhaps the key linkage in the concept, a connectionthrough this property between Forest Hill and Gum Roads, linking the Oratia/Waiatarua areas withHenderson Valley/Opanuku and Swanson.A cluster approach to any subdivision on this site would be preferable to keep building sites off thehill crests (located in the lower or less visible parts of the site), combined with riparian enhancementplanting and stock exclusion, landscape planting and ideally enabling the pastoral activity tocontinue across the upper slopes. Planting of a row of trees across the crest of the hill may alsoserve to better separate viewing catchments and reduce impacts of buildings, building sites andaccess on or close to the ridgeline.Due to the sites current status as under appeal, the potential for an agreement to be reached byway of consent order exists, rather than undertaking a Plan Change, as will be required for theother 3 Large sites.The LAPs background work will be used by the Council and other parties to inform the eventualsettlement of the appeal, including more detailed site specific investigations.Figure 42 (Right): Site as Viewed fromGum RoadFigure 43 (Below): Looking over thesite from Forest Hill Road.Page 58 of 65
Page 1 and 2: In the Henderson Valley/Opanuku are
Page 3 and 4: existing structure plans and subdiv
Page 5: It is primarily a residential site,
Page 9: Application of the LPMA approach wo

Henderson Valley/Opanuku Local Area Plan ... - Auckland Council

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