Residents fight plan for new houses on farmland

POTENTIAL: The Ohauiti land which may be developed for up to 180 new homes.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A Tauranga neighbourhood has united against a plan to fast-track development of a rural-zoned block of land using Housing Accord legislation.

Adler Estate residents in Ohauiti filled the public seating at yesterday's council meeting to oppose a major extension of their estate on to adjoining farmland.

Speakers Tristan Hewett and Michael Grace urged the council not to turn nearly half of the farmland into a Special Housing Area, a process that allowed developers to shortcut normal rezoning rules.

The council was due to make a decision on March 17 on whether the rural portion of the block would be rezoned for development - a week before the whole 21.1-hectare block goes up for auction.

Mr Hewett told the Bay of Plenty Times after the meeting they were quibbling only about the rural-zoned portion of the land earmarked for development into 80 house sites. Although the residents were concerned with safety impacts of the total 180-site development at the bottom of Adler Drive, they did not oppose the other side of the block because it was already zoned residential.

Mr Hewett told the meeting that the council had met its requirement for 1000 Special Housing Area sections by land already approved by the Government.

He highlighted the near-misses caused by poor visibility from traffic heading down Ohauiti Rd when residents left Adler Drive. There was enough concern about the intersection now, without adding another 360 vehicles to their street, he said.

Mr Hewett said a lot of heavy traffic used the road and vehicles going downhill were travelling well above the 70km/h speed limit.

The new development would also substantially boost the number of Adler Estate children that crossed Ohauiti Rd to catch school buses.

Mr Grace said residents were concerned about the safety of children stepping out from behind parked cars when up to 1800 extra vehicle movements a day would be generated by the development.