Retirement village opponents, Ryman settle court action

The battle over a proposed new village on the North Shore has now been resolved.

Ryman Healthcare and opponents of the development of a North Shore village have resolved court action after five weeks of confidential mediation in the Environment Court.

Iain Rea of the Devonport Peninsula Precincts Society fronted the battle against plans on the greenfields site Wakakura above Ngataringa Bay at Narrow Neck, between Devonport and Belmont on Auckland's North Shore.

"We are still going to have Devonport's biggest ever development on this site but we have managed to mitigate some of the worst effects," Rea said.

The society, the Auckland branch of the NZ Institute of Architects and civic lobby group Urban Auckland were in court with Ryman, trying to force a better result.

Ryman expressed satisfaction after the court action over its plans for the 600-bed,300-carpark development at Wakakura.

Ryman filed an NZX notice this afternoon, saying successful mediation had secured a future for the new village.

"Ryman Healthcare's new Devonport village is set to proceed following a successful outcome to mediation talks with objectors. All parties attended mediation to discuss concerns and find common ground. The mediation was productive, differences were resolved amicably and an agreement has been signed off by all parties.

"The resolution now requires final approval from the Environment Court."

Andrew Mitchell, Ryman group development manager, expressed satisfaction.

"We're absolutely delighted to have come to an agreement with the Devonport Peninsula Precincts Society, Urban Auckland and the Institute of Architects. The talks have been constructive and we have agreed a resolution we are all happy with. We are pleased to be a step closer to providing a comprehensive care retirement village in the Devonport community that is desperately needed.

"This is great news for the more than 300 people on our waiting list who have been waiting for news," Mitchell said.