Refinery eyes mixed use plan on prime site

Chelsea Sugar Refinery could become an apartment block

The Chelsea Sugar Refinery, which has operated on the north shore of the Waitemata Harbour for 122 years, faces a new life as a prime development site of up to 528 homes including eight-storey apartments.

The owners of the Birkenhead landmark are asking the North Shore City Council to change the District Plan so it can provide for a mix of new residential and commercial uses should refining cease.

The 15ha site, including the refinery's pink-painted heritage buildings, is zoned business 9 which ties its use for general business - industrial activities.

Owners, Chelsea Estates NZ Pty Ltd - a division of CSR Ltd, Chelsea Refinery's parent company - sold an adjoining 37ha of park-like grounds, forest and lakes to the Chelsea Park Trust in December.

The trust is trying to secure funding for the $20 million conditional sale to make a public park.

New Zealand Sugar Company (Chelsea Sugar) general manager Bernard Duignan said yesterday that the refinery was a strong business serving export markets and the New Zealand food and beverage industry.

It had 200 staff and would keep operating on a 24-hour, seven-day basis for the foreseeable future.

Plant had been upgraded and extended at the refinery which was one of three remaining in Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Duignan said the private plan change was to protect company assets but it would also safeguard the heritage, environment, ecology and landscape of the area.

Other industrial firms would want something built to their specifications and would be wary of the tight rules around modifying heritage buildings in the heart of the complex.

The refinery precinct, including an open area known as the Horse Paddock, would be more appropriately used for a mixture of residential and commercial, with large areas of open space and buildings fitting in with the Chelsea Park.

Mr Duignan said the company had experience in reusing historic refinery buildings in the New Farm Refinery on the Brisbane River in Australia.

Planning consultant Jim Bentley said the plan change application, now open for public scrutiny, was made after urban design studies.

New buildings would have from one to eight levels. Eight-level apartment buildings in the eastern refinery area could be up to 25m high.

But if properly located they would not be significant in the backdrop of the rising terrain to the west and north or the height of the heritage buildings.

Buildings in the Horse Paddock and sugar store area would be up to three levels.

The application does not cover the refinery's deepwater wharf which is still used by ships discharging raw sugar from overseas.

In the 1960s Chelsea sold off land for subdivision which is now the suburb of Chatswood.

City Councillor Andrew Eaglen, who has been part of the council team in refinery planning issues, said he expected the refinery would carry on for many years.

He said the plan changes coverage of the possibility of other potential uses and protection of heritage buildings was something the public would want to have a say on.

Brian Guy of Premier Real Estate on the North Shore said Birkenhead and Northcote waterfront properties were much sought after and one such home had fetched $2.6 million.

He said the park-like surroundings of the refinery would be a very desirable residential environment.


Development options

* Chelsea Sugar Refinery operating at Birkenhead since 1884.
* The site contains heritage buildings classified as Category 2 under Historic Places Act.
* In December, sold 37ha to the Chelsea Park Trust for public use.
* Refinery company says no plans for closure on the remaining 15ha.
* But if refining was to cease, it wishes to provide for alternative uses on the site.
* It seeks a District Plan change to allow reuse of heritage buildings and new ones in its concept for a mixed housing and commercial development.