Residents baulk at truck move

Photo: JASON OXENHAM

HEAVY LOAD: Te Papapa residents, from left, Patrick Heeney, Steve Pihema and Grant Eade do not want Owens Transport to operate 24 hours a day.

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Trucks could be using a Te Papapa street all day, every day, if a trucking company is granted consent for extra operating hours.

A recent two-day hearing was held over 9 Felix St, from which freight company Owens Transport operates.

Commissioners will decide if the company can run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on the street that is residential on one side and zoned business four on the other.

The depot operates from 6am to 7pm Monday to Thursdays, 6am to 12am on Fridays, and 8am to 2pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

If approved, the consent would allow an extra 48 trucks per hour between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 9am to 6pm on Sundays and public holidays. It would also allow up to four vehicle movements an hour at other times.

Resident Patrick Heeney is considering moving from the area if the consent is granted.

"They are breaking the rules constantly. We have an issue around the grey area of managing their employees.

"It makes sense to want a 24-hour operation, but not here."

He says the depot has a poor reputation in the community – "I'm really disappointed about the lack of sensitivity to local residents."

Neighbour Grant Eade says it is a do-or-die situation. "If it happens, we'll have to move out.

"We'll get no peace whatsoever."

Mr Heeney says the hearing was fair and neutral and he was impressed by the commissioners' attention to detail.

He says opposing arguments included the need of the site for rail use, the fact that freighting operations are increasing and that the company is within regulations.

Under recent changes to the Resource Management Act, notification was given to seven households deemed affected.

Auckland City Council regulatory planning manager Andrew Gysberts says an existing-use rights certificate allows the company to operate at agreed hours on the rear half of the site seven days a week.

"Council staff have monitored the activities proposed for the site, and have taken several noise surveys to determine existing background levels for the area.

"Staff have, at the request of the company, monitored the trucks they propose to use overnight and provided them and their consultant with results that indicate they breach the rules," he says.

A large acoustic wall is proposed between two halves of the site and a council hearings planner has recommended consent be declined because of effects on residential amenity.

Owens Transport would not comment.

- © Fairfax NZ News