Plan sparks fears of high-rise mayhem

Jill Parry, of the group Sandy Walkers, with the growing high-rise skyline of Mt Maunganui in the background. She fears encroachments by developers onto the dune environment. Photo / Alan Gibson

Residents are concerned one of New Zealand's most popular beach spots may become a concrete jungle under new plans which could allow for development higher into the sky and closer to the sea.

Tauranga City Council's proposed district plan has been criticised by politicians and environmental groups who say it has been rushed into notification with potentially hazardous environmental consequences.

Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty told the Herald many anxious Mt Maunganui residents had written to her about the proposed changes to the mean high water spring and the height restrictions on construction.

"From what I can tell there is a lot of unhappy people. It would be good to stop and listen rather than bulldoze things through.

"If you live in a city with beautiful natural resources, covering them with high rises represents protecting a narrow set of business interests."

Under the former district plan, buildings could be constructed up to 38.5m high along a narrow spine of the peninsula.

The new plan allows for high-rise buildings to be constructed across the breadth of the peninsula between Pilot Bay and Marine Parade. The plan adopts the same "sagging line" rule, in which the height restriction falls in a gradual line from 38.5m close to the Mount, to 19m further away from the mountain.

Several councillors at a meeting yesterday said the new rule created consistency in height restrictions, and would be accompanied by tougher standards on consent for taller buildings.

But other councillors felt the area should have been protected by a prohibitive resource consent, instead of the more lenient discretionary consent.

Councillor Wayne Moultrie said the distinct character of the Mount was known nationwide, and its high numbers of tourists depended on its natural beauty.

"If it is going to be easier to build above a 9m mark near there, that is going to create a considerable amount of angst," he said.

Jill Parry, founder of environmental group Sandy Walkers, feared the new plan could allow the Mauao end of the peninsula to be developed to resemble Surfers Paradise.

She also pointed out that the boundary for the mean high water spring had been shifted seawards 10m under the proposed plan. "Since the area 20m from the mean high water spring is supposed to be a reserve, this will allow encroachments by developers onto the dune environment," she said.

Ms Delahunty said the shift was shortsighted.

"We should be stepping back from the coast. We have no idea of our future, of how the waves will affect the landscape."

The council voted yesterday that the proposed city plan be adopted for public notification.

The public has until December to make a formal submission.