Rule changes will ruin region, says society

Westie allies in the fight to protect the Waitakere Ranges have fallen out over how far money-making ventures should be allowed in its settlements.

Waitakere City Council and the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society together endured three years of tough arguing before Parliament established the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Protection Area in April 2008.

Now, the council is trying to make good on assurances to landowners who feared the heritage area act would curb property rights. The deal was that the act could protect heritage features from the cumulative effects of urban growth while enabling the area to be lived and worked in.

But the council says its District Plan rules and consent costs are bringing complaints about them discouraging business activity and it suggests changes.

Its proposed Plan Change 36 has particularly upset the society, which says this would undermine the act by introducing commercial activities on residential sites throughout the ranges and foothills.

Society secretary Dr Mels Barton said the proposal threatened the ranges and the character of its villages.

"Anyone will be be able to open a shop, takeaway, cafe, battery chicken farm, tourism business and many other commercial activities anywhere in the ranges as of right."

Dr Barton called for the proposed plan change to be withdrawn, saying local people were not adequately consulted. She urged people to make a submission on the plan change proposal before tomorrow's 5pm deadline.

Council planning group manager Philip Brown yesterday welcomed views of people "if they feel we have tipped the balance".

However, he said Plan Change 36 offered policies and rules for separate environment zones to recognise that some limited activities supported local communities and visitors.

However, in the zones of coastal villages, Waitakere Ranges and bush living, expansion of retail businesses would be confined to existing dairies, cafes and art galleries, with resource consent required.

In Titirangi, the village's commercial zone would extend to include South Titirangi Rd and businesses on the outskirts. For the rural village of Oratia, the council proposes that any new activities are designed within an "orchard landscape setting and actually serve the local community".

CHERISHED HILLS

* Waitakere Ranges Heritage area 27,720ha.
* Includes 10,000ha of private land as well as parkland.
* Covers Titirangi, foothills properties in Oratia and villages of Piha, Karekare and Huia.
* Houses 22,000 people.
* Contains orchards, vineyards, lifestyle blocks, farmers market, stores, cafes, reception venues, accommodation, home businesses, farm park and other tourism attractions.