Waiheke Islanders unite against city-style wharf project

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

Waiheke Islanders are uniting in fear of an alleged "Aucklandisation" of their slice of paradise from a $35 million development.

They are inviting Aucklanders visiting Waiheke for a break from the urban rat race to consider if they want to be greeted at the Matiatia wharf, the island's main gateway, by multi-storey apartments and shops akin to those in the Bay of Islands or Viaduct Harbour.

Waitemata Infrastructure, two-thirds owned by directors of the merchant bank FR Partners, says a "maritime village" of apartments, cafes, shops, restaurants, and a hotel conference centre will boost the island's economy while protecting sensitive wetlands.

The consortium bought about 7ha of the Matiatia valley in 2000 and wants a private plan change to the district scheme to develop an area closer to the shore than now allowed, in return for handing areas of wetland over about half the site to the Auckland City Council. It wants to double the area now allowed for homes to 10,000sq m for 70 to 100 apartments, within a building zone of 25,000sq m and to heights of up to 13m above a 500-space underground carpark, raising the ground level.

A supporting landscape architect's report derided a "quasi-bach" approach to existing development in the area, saying the new project would not have a major visual impact and would complement rather than degrade the values of the wider bay.

But independent hearings commissioners, before reserving a decision on whether to recommend the change to the council possibly by the end of this month, received an opposing petition signed by 2275 of the island's 2001 census-night population of 7137.

The petition declared that the plan change was not necessary for the well-being of the local community, a basic requirement of the Resource Management Act.

Waitemata director Stephen Norrie said at the planning hearing that he was aware of an "anti-development culture" on the island resistant to any development, no matter how well-founded.

He was disappointed that the consortium had had just three concrete suggestions from islanders on its website and at a waterfront display.

But former Waiheke Community Board chairman Bruce Bisset said in a submission that the existing district scheme allowed considerable development to support Matiatia as a transport terminal, visitor facility and maritime service centre.

It was just that the proposed development was too large for an island where people chose to live or visit to get away from urbanisation.

He told the Herald that the proposal had united disparate groups on the island as never before.

While the developers point to a deficit of retail outlets on the island, and promise locals more jobs as their project becomes a tourism magnet, Mr Bisset says existing shops struggle to survive and Waiheke's main attraction to visitors is as an eco-tourist destination.

Auckland City planning manager John Duthie denies residents' claims that the council compromised itself last year by signing a deed surrendering a lease of free parking land on the waterfront to the developer, saying this was to settle court proceedings against the city.