My first contact directly to the DCC Planning department (I subsequently had confirmation that the site was already under assessment)
Further to may last email, which I copied to you on 24/08/2005.
Alan Dippie (Willowridge) has continued to carry out wholesale gorse removal, as per his promises to "tidy up" the site.
However, I am still concerned that the level of deforestation and ground disturbance, which is very high and will take many years to regenerate with native newly planted seedlings.
I recently checked the DCC for papers on consents and such associated with erosion control for rural sections, and encountered the following document (attached):
February 2004 Dunedin City District Plan
Resource Management Act 1991
DUNEDIN CITY PROPOSED DISTRICT PLAN
VARIATION 9A
CHANGES ARISING FROM DECISIONS
http://www.cityofdunedin.com/city/?page=consult_variation_9a
Specifically the interesting and relevant parts are
- Issue 6.1.1 Rural land use practices can adversely affect the sustainable management of natural and physical resources.
- Issue 6.1.2 The fragmentation of rural land can adversely affect the sustainable management of natural and physical resources.
- Issue 6.1.4 Certain activities have the potential to adversely affect the character and amenity of the rural area.
- Issue 6.1.6 The expansion of residential and urban activities can compromise the sustainability of rural areas.
- Issue 6.1.8 The rural area has natural and physical resources that require protection, including the surface and margins of water bodies, the margins of the coastal marine area, significant indigenous vegetation, fauna and habitats, and significant natural features and landscapes.
Given that the DCC has clearly set out it's objectives and policies in the District Plan as recently as February 2004, I would be grateful if you will take a close look at the work currently underway at 145 Drs Point Road to confirm that you do not consider the current activities to lie outside of the DCC Plan guidelines for activities requiring consent.
If you would like me to take pictures and email them to you, that would be no trouble.
I and many of my neighbours directly adjacent to the property are concerned that there is a large activity already dramatically altering the natural character of this piece of land, which we do not wish to go unfettered.
I look forward to your response, and if you wish to discuss this, please feel free to contact me either at work or at home at the contact details below.
Regards,
Lee Paterson
2 comments:
Further to this email, I had an excellent discussion with Peter Woods of the DCC last Friday. The following notes of our discussion are for your information, and others, should they be interested.
The current works underway at Opeke are within allowable activities, according to the Resource Management Act, and the DCC Land use plan for the site in it's current zoning.
Allan Dippie has provided the DCC with the mission statement for the future vegetation cover of the Opeke site. This includes provision of 30,000 native plants / seedlings.
The current gorse clearance has attempted (where possible) to retain non-exotic species; to the extent that some gorse clearance has been done by hand where machine activities would have placed native seedlings at risk.
The intention is to now wait until the gorse attempts to re-grow during the summer, then to carry our first spraying, then further root-raking if necessary.
The hope is to plant seedlings and grass this autumn, with the hope that this will properly establish in the next reasonable growth period.
At present, there are NO firm plans for what course any proposed building development will take on the site.
Mr. Dippies intentions are to establish a self-sustaining native planting regime first PRIOR to attempting ANY development or subdivision of the site.
An excellent response I thought
Although we cannot know for certain what form any proposals will take ahead of any formal submission, Peter Woods understands from Mr. Dippie that he is likely to seek leave toconstruct approximately 10, 11 or max 12 dwellings on the land. These would be "boutique" developments - though at this stage, we obviously cannot clearly define any proposals, as there is no firm plan as-yet.
I did not wish to comment on the acceptability or otherwise of this statement, but made it clear that a "re-zoning" of the land would be hard fought in the community, as - even with initial development only at 1 dwelling per acre - re-zoning would allow future subdivision up to the limits of that zoning allowance. (approximately 30 properies at the lowest residential zoning).
At present, I am satisfied that the Opeke site is being properly supervised by the DCC, that the interests of the community are being safeguarded and that the community will be properly consulted at the appropriate time.
Peter will be looking after the DCC interests for Opeke for the foreseeable future, and as a new Resident to Drs Point Road (as of this week) he has a keen interest to see that the development reflects local views.
Peter told me that he is happy to be a contact for others in the future, and that I could pass on his contact details if desired.
mailto:pwoods@dcc.govt.nz
telephone 03 474 3756.
Post a Comment