Bay Harbour: April 14, 2021

• From page 1
“Forward and back discussions
are needed, as there are complex
issues involved,” he said.
“If the land was sold, there is
no public consultation requirement
for the developer.”
Without public consultation,
Suggate believes the action would
contravene section 82 of the
Local Government Act.
Said Diamond Harbour Community
Association chairman
Nathan Graham: “We think the
LTP is not the appropriate vehicle
for land disposal. There needs to
be more consultation with the
community before the property
is sold.”
Suggate explained the area is
about one-third of the current
Diamond Harbour area in size,
running across the back of the
village, adjacent to many houses.
Sale of the land could result in
200-300 more houses being built.
“Diamond Harbour is a stand
alone community and the area
concerned is a large chunk of
land, right next to where people
live,” Suggate said.
“It is not just a random subdivision,
rather it would be adding
on to an existing settlement
which has developed and grown
slowly over time. People are
interested in what will happen if
the land is sold.”
Graham agreed that the land
sale would affect the wider community
and thus they need a say
in how it is developed.
“The community needs a say
in how they want Diamond
Harbour to be in the next 20-30
years.”
However, city council head of
facilities, property and planning
Bruce Rendall said there has not
been any attempt to fast track
disposal of the land.
Rendall explained recent
changes have increased community
input alongside allowing for
consideration of the financial
implications of decisions.
“The LTP process requires
extensive consultation, ensuring
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that there is a wide variety of
input into decisions. Local interests
can be considered, through
individual submissions and community
board input, as well as
broader ratepayer considerations.
Within the land is Morgan’s
and Sam’s gullies. Volunteers
have been working for a number
of years to restore these areas
with native vegetation. It is hoped
the gullies will eventually become
reserves but they are yet to
be protected by covenants.
Suggate said if the land was
sold before the gullies were covenanted,
the reserves committee
volunteers would have to deal
with the new developers who
own the land.
“The council would wash their
hands of the responsibility.
Rendall said actions to protect
these gullies are well advanced.
Suggate said another issue is
that the land boundaries are
currently infused with residents’
daily activities. Some people
have built private gardens over
the years. There is a track to
Diamond Harbour School, which
is used daily by students.
Other factors regarding
infrastructure also need to be
considered such as, if more
houses are built, the school
NEWS 5
More than 200 houses could be built in subdivision
BIGGER ISSUES: Whero Ave is deemed
too narrow to provide access to a new
subdivision.
Wednesday April 14 2021 Bay Harbour News
Nathan
Graham
Bruce Rendall
would need to increase in size,
Suggate said.
“Maybe some of the land could
be set aside for the school’s expansion
as it backs on to the area.
This would need to be decided
before the land’s disposal.”
Furthermore, Suggate said
the roads leading to the area are
narrow and are not suitable for
increased traffic and the village’s
wastewater system is failing.
“The council should think
about other ways to use the land,
like whether it should be sold in
one go or sold in bits.”
Said Suggate: “Public
consultation will change the
way any future subdivision is
undertaken and will better reflect
what the community want to
have.”
Suggate shared these views at
the Banks Peninsula Community
Board meeting on Monday, supported
by the Diamond Harbour
Community Association.
Board chairwoman Tori Peden
agreed with Suggate, saying the
LTP was the wrong process for
the land sale.
“We are asking the city council
that this be taken out of the LTP
and be put through a public
consultation process.”
Rendall acknowledged the
city council will consider the
feedback received from the public
submissions before deciding the
next steps relating to the land.
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