High-rise fight revived

LIZ WILLIS

Residents fear they will have to relive the nightmare of a bitter $100,000 high-rise battle.

Browns Bay beachfront is outlined as an option for 25-metre high apartments in a report commissioned by Auckland Council.

This opens old wounds for campaigners like Nancy Smail who helped fight an eight-storey beachfront development proposed by Anzani Investments in the late 1990s.

"It cost six years of my life. I can feel my blood pressure going up already," Mrs Smail says.

"The whole group will be in total disbelief."

Browns Bay Beachfront Action Committee raised more than $100,000 to battle the developer all the way to the High Court.

Mrs Smail says the court ruled nothing over four storeys could be built.

The precedent is named in honour of committee member, the now late, Colin Aley who was a Browns Bay resident for 60 years, she says.

Experts proved an eight-storey structure would block the afternoon sun to low tide on the beach, Mrs Smail says.

"We were not against development, we just didn't want eight storeys," Mrs Smail says.

She isn't reassured by suggestions the council report is theoretical.

"It will be Joe Blogs fighting city hall. These theories have a habit of sneaking in."

Birkenhead is already rallying to fight suggestions that 13-metre to 25-metre high-rise could be built in their coastal heritage areas.

Council chief planning officer Roger Blakeley is standing by the report.

He says councillors needed more information about intensification to respond to Auckland Plan submissions.

The council has to be sensitive to community concerns including the impact of intensification on heritage and views, he says.

Councillors need to consider how much intensification is acceptable and the report helps this decision-making process, Mr Blakeley says.

Leaked information from the reports doesn't show the full picture, he says.

The Auckland Plan will set out the overall plan to house the growing population which in high growth scenarios would require 400,000 new homes in the next 30 years, he says.

The draft Unitary Plan, which replaces existing district plans, would set out proposed zoning changes and is to be released later this year.

Mr Blakeley says it's important to keep all options open until councillors decide how best to cater for growth.

What are your thoughts on the option of high-rise apartments on the Browns Bay beachfront?

- © Fairfax NZ News