Developers give up Hastings beach plans

Developers have ditched plans for a seaside village at Ocean Beach, levelling a stinging attack at Hastings District Council in the process.

Hill Country Corporation, the second company in a week to abandon a large development around Hastings and blame the council, withdrew its application yesterday for a private plan change that would have allowed a 1000-dwelling village with shops and businesses at one end of the beach.

In exchange it would have given the public legal access - an offer that was now off the table, Hill Country general manager Phil Hocquard said.

Last week, Amnico Holdings dropped plans for Hawke's Bay's biggest construction project - a $110 million retirement village on the outskirts of Havelock North - after being denied resource consent to build it on old orchard land.

Hawke's Bay Real Estate Institute president Libby Warren questioned the wisdom of embarking on such a large beachfront development given the economic climate.

But Mr Hocquard said the decision, after work costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, was not based on housing market fluctuations, as it was a 20- to 50-year plan. It was made in the face of endless delays, mounting costs, antagonism and excessive demands by the council.

The council had been "overwhelmed by pockets of vocal opposition" and mixed its procedural responsibilities and political views that killed off fair process, he said.

"Council has no intention of allowing this plan change to proceed to a fair hearing but to continue to obfuscate and delay the process.

"While council's siege mentality approach to legitimate and well-substantiated plan-change initiatives that aren't its own remains in place, the district can expect that more opportunities to enhance the future will continue to be lost."

Council resource manager Mike Maguire said Hill Country's application had been handled "in as independent a manner as is possible", including the use of independent technical advisers and commissioners.

The community "clearly has an affinity with Ocean Beach", he said, and that was reflected in nearly 200 submissions, both for and against the proposal.

Mr Hocquard said there would still be housing development at Ocean Beach, but it would now be scattered along the coastline on expensive lifestyle blocks. Much of the land is in private ownership. Hill Country would not sell land to allow public access.

Opponents of the development rejoiced at the news. Conservationist Tom Belford said: "We will all head out there on Saturday to savour the beach and our victory." The minority interest in the "despoiling of Ocean Beach has always been Hill Country".

Future Ocean Beach spokesman Bruno Chambers said it was a victory for the community and other similar groups should take heart from the decision.

Baywatch spokeswoman Angela Hair said the community had a strong voice on the issue, which had made an impact.

"I'm hopeful we can go forward with the preservation of Ocean Beach," she said. "It's Hawke's Bay's coastal jewellery."