Letter: Subdivision in Khandallah

OPINION: In Environment Court calls halt as developer cuts without consent, you report that, "Neighbours ... decided not to challenge the zoning change", which suggests no one opposed the proposal.

That's incorrect.

District Plan Change 68 (Ngauranga Forest) was an application for rezoning, to Outer Residential, 1.2 hectares of 14.8ha of Open Space land between Homebush Park Reserve and Tyers Stream Reserve.

At the Wellington City Council hearing in April 2009, the Homebush Rd Residents Group did challenge the zone-change application.

Members of the group (and others) made submissions and spoke strongly in opposition..

One of the main concerns was the impact on an ecological corridor of regenerating native bush.

The hearing commissioners recommended that the zone change be allowed with specific conditions to protect the indigenous vegetation until a resource consent hearing for the proposed subdivision.

On May 27 last year, the full council endorsed the commissioners' recommendation by a majority of 8-6 (with one abstention).

We didn't appeal to the Environment Court because of the considerable costs involved.

JENNY ROY

Khandallah

- © Fairfax NZ News