Court clears way for new Mount Maunganui fire station

A controversial new $1.8 million fire station in central Mount Maunganui has been given the go-ahead after plans were scuttled by the city council.
The Environment Court has upheld an appeal by the New Zealand Fire Service to build a two-storied fire station on the corner of Golf Rd and Links Ave.
This came after a Tauranga City Council hearings committee 15 months ago declined the fire service resource consent to build the station in a residential area, saying it would hurt the neighbourhood's character and increase noise.
Nineteen Mount residents lodged objections.
The Environment Court has now released its decision, after a five-day hearing in August.
Tauranga Chief Fire Officer Ron Devlin said some finer details of the station plans were still being finalised but building was expected to start in the middle of next year.
"Obviously we are delighted as this will enable us to service our rapidly expanding community much more effectively and efficiently,"Mr Devlin said.
It has been seven years since the idea for a new station was first mooted and the site was purchased 18 months ago.
"The site is the geographic centre of the peninsula and is the best place for a fire station," he said.
Council communications adviser Frank Begley said the council had received the Environment Court decision and was considering whether or not to appeal.
After being refused by the city council, the Fire Service modified its proposal to ease some concerns over noise and amenity effects.
The changes included moving the building closer to Links Ave and modifying a balcony.
In a written decision the Environment Court found that while the proposed building looked like a fire station, it was not inconsistent with the surrounding environment.
"Indeed in this location it may provide some screening and a buffer to the effects of the proposed major roading developments around the intersection of Hewletts and Maunganui Rds," the Court said.
It found that measures such as a 2m-high concrete wall would mean the only significant noise nuisance from the fire station would be the fire trucks leaving or returning to the station at night.
It also found that the fire station would not be likely to result in any increase in the risk of accidents nearby, or contribute to any existing traffic problems.
But pensioner Cliff Lewis, who lives opposite the new site and opposes the fire station, said the fire service had created a big problem for itself.
"They will have a hell of a lot of fun trying to get out of there in rush hour," the 96-year-old said of firefighters, after learning of the court decision.
"The traffic is terrible just after knock-off time. They will be lucky to get out.
"I think it's in a crazy place for it. You come here at 8am and there are 20 cars backed up at a time."
Mr Lewis saidthe traffic woes of Golf Rd had worsened.