Fletcher’s fast-track plans for $100m+ Ellerslie site opposed by Ōrākei local council

Fletcher Living’s request to fast-track plans for 370 homes on 6.2ha of Ellerslie Racecourse land which it plans to buy has been challenged by the area’s local council.

Ōrākei local council member Troy Churton said that
The entity wanted the program to go through a more transparent resource consent process instead of receiving special treatment through the Covid recovery process.

The council provided comments against the program going through the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act, he said.

“The intent of this legislation is in relation to the Covid lockdown conditions and has been designed to restart the economy. There does not appear to be any lasting harm to the construction industry or our economy from the pandemic,” Churton said.

“That’s exactly why we argued that this style of development is no different than any other style of development.”

David Parker, Minister for the Environment, says the development plans for The Hill meet the criteria and should therefore be subject to review by a group of willing experts.

A decision has not yet been made.

Churton said if the program is approved under that law, the panel would choose who it wants to hear from. It was unclear whether people from the area were included.

When Ryman Healthcare used the same legal process to obtain consent for a new village in Kohimarama, the panel received feedback from the local council and a group of local residents who were affected, Churton noted.

The loss of green space in the wider environment was a concern.

“But the scale of what is on offer has obvious negative effects on the surrounding area, such as traffic jams and visual effects,” he said.

“The hill has iconic status in this area and for horse racing people so it is sad to see it turned into flats. But the council is more concerned with density, height, volume and scale and the effects on local infrastructure – the road, storm water, earthworks,” Churton said.

“That’s why we said this plan should be processed through the regular resource management system and notified publicly instead of going through the expedited system.”

Scott Milne, chairman of the board, said: “We have known for some time that the land is available and as a board we have considered what the implications are from a growth pressure point of view. .

“Our main concerns would be around traffic and also the loss of open space. Ellerslie is also a heritage business district and it will be under enormous pressure and the transport links have been there for the last century.”

The pressure on public transport and green spaces of the “last century” was a major concern, Milne pointed out.

People living in the new project could use buses or trains.

“If it’s less than a 10-minute walk from Ellerslie station, even greater escalation will be possible,” Milne said.

The government wanted more affordable housing, Milne acknowledged, but doubted any of the new units would meet those criteria.

“By the standards of most New Zealanders, these will be very expensive apartments,” Milne predicted.

Apartments in the area cost around $1.5 million to $3 million each or more, he said.

Troy Elliott, vice-chairman of the board and representative of Auckland council in the October elections for the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki ward, said people in the area needed to be consulted.

“None of us are anti-development. But it should be done in consultation with all parties, including the people of Ellerslie village. It’s walking distance from the train station, but we have to ensuring that Fletcher has full consultation with the entire community,” Elliott said.

The Ellerslie Residents Association was founded a few years ago over concerns about the racetrack land being developed, Elliott said.

“No parking will be required for the Fletcher plan under the new Housing Supply Bill. My concern is what happens to surrounding streets if there is not enough parking?” Elliott asked.

“This fast-track legislation is being misused. It’s tenuous at best, to apply in this Covid-19 process because the community has no say,” Elliott said.

The legislation shows that under the expedited process, the applicants for The Hill – Ellerslie are Auckland Thoroughbred Racing Inc and Fletcher Residential.

Subdivision, construction of housing, provision of infrastructures and free spaces are planned with a mix of single-family houses, duplexes, apartments and semi-detached houses of one to three levels. Up to five apartments on seven levels are planned.

Auckland Transport, the Minister for Racing, the Minister for Seniors, Watercare Services and Ngāti Koheriki Claims Committee are parties listed by the panel of experts who are to be invited to comment.

The reasons the plans are going through the fast track process have been listed as providing jobs, increasing housing supply, having positive social welfare effects by generating jobs and providing a diverse range of housing types .

The project would progress faster than would otherwise be the case under the Resource Management Act’s consent systems, the notice said.

Fletcher’s bid for the land is subject to Overseas Investment Office approval due to its share register containing a high number of foreign entities. the company is NZX and ASX listed.

Steve Evans, managing director of Fletcher Living, said car parks would be provided “to meet the needs of our customers”.

“The Minister for the Environment has confirmed that the development of The Hill meets the fast-track criteria which have been established to fast-track the approval of projects which are deemed to support New Zealand’s recovery from the economic and social impacts of Covid-19.

“We are committed to talking with residents, local councils and other interested parties throughout the process. Over the coming weeks, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing and Fletcher Living will be speaking with residents, local councils and others,” Evans said.

On infrastructure, Evans said: “We have already had conversations with utility providers and are confident that the development can be serviced without any consequences to our neighbours.”