Independent Commissioners have today released their decision to grant the subdivision and landuse consents sought by developers MMS GP Limited, enabling them to proceed with a staged residential development at 77 Bunyan Road.
The consent allows for the development of 240 residential allotments, one lot for a proposed retirement village, 13 access lots, eight reserve lots and seven public roads.
The Commissioners noted in their decision that the hearings process was conducted with fairness to all participants, and acknowledged the difficulties Māori encounter in dealing with Resource Management Act processes like this one.
The Ōpihi Structure Plan, which was earlier endorsed by the Environment Court, sets aside over a quarter of the original land area for reserve purposes, including coastal protection and landscape reserves and a buffer to protect the cultural and spiritual values of the Ōpihi-Whanaungakore Urupā to the east.
The subdivision consent conditions required the development of a management plan for the buffer, which was developed in consultation with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, the Ōpihi-Whanaungakore Urupā trustees and Whakatāne District Council. The conditions also required a plan to manage and restore ecological values for the development site.
Whakatāne District Mayor Judy Turner says Council is acutely aware of the cultural significance of the land and river to Tangata Whenua. “Considerable efforts have gone into developing management plans that appropriately respond to the protection of cultural and spiritual values. However, I acknowledge the outcome will still be challenging for some.”
“Council has a role to respond to further projected population growth and to the increased demand for housing,” Mayor Turner notes.
“This, combined with our geographical constraints, means Council needs to carefully consider how we unlock more housing given our current housing crisis to ensure we have homes for all. We know that there is work for us to do with Tangata Whenua, as we move forward together. At the same time, learning from this process to ensure we are sensitive to our environment and sense of place.”