Chelsea Sugar Refinery Estate           Proposed Plan Change 16

February 1 2007 Harvey White

This private plan change by NZ Sugar Company Ltd lays the foundation for the destruction of the unique historic character of the Chelsea Sugar Works and associated grounds, in a bid to erect 528 apartment units in a network of 3 to 8 level buildings.

The potential adverse effects of such a development include:-

The plan change fails to address what is an appropriate use for the Chelsea site because it is at odds with Auckland regional planning strategies for residential intensification and in the absence of definitive development timeframes, future suitability of the proposal cannot be assessed.

A number of significant submissions have been received opposing the
plan change, chief amongst them the Auckland Regional Council, the
North Shore City Council and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

The deadline for further submissions has now passed and a hearing to
be convened by Independent Commissioners is currently anticipated in November 2006.

If you would like to know more, you can download the following resources here, (all PDF files):

Plan Change 16
Summary of Submissions
ARC Submission
NSCC Submission

District Plans are available from the North Shore City Council website: www.northshorecity.govt.nz. Click on "Your Council", then "Strategies and Plans", select "District Plan", then (on the upper right side) "Modifications"

BRA Not Satisfied By Chelsea Decision

press release 14 November 2007 (re PLAN CHANGE 21)

Decisions by North Shore City on Private Plan Change 16 to the District Plan in regards to the Chelsea Sugar Refinery land at Birkenhead have been made public. Click here to view and / or download a copy.

Proposed Plan Change and overall determination.
This decision report specifies the Hearing Commissioners’ decision on submissions (including further submissions) to the Proposed (Private) Plan Change 16 - Chelsea Mixed Use Overlay Area and Plan.

 

Birkenhead Residents Association and its members were among the many community organisations opposing Chelsea Sugar Refinery’s private plan change to develop the company’s parkland premises on coastal Birkenhead into a high-density housing estate.

North Shore City Council received more than 500 objections to the proposed 528 unit Chelsea development, which would not only increase traffic flows through Highbury village centre, but would also see the destruction of cherished wildlife reserves around the existing seaside plant.

Independent planning commissioners have taken eight months to reach a decision and produce a report which recommends that the plan change provides a good option for future use of the Chelsea site, but under much tighter regulations and processes than originally sought by Chelsea, and with stricter attention to environmental issues.

Although disappointed at the decision, Birkenhead Residents Association is heartened by the support within the community and the number of opposing submissions. Chairman Harvey White believes that this opposition has played a large role in achieving the significant changes to the plan, such as the requirement that all future activities will need discretionary activity consent, and the requirement for a Comprehensive Development Plan.

But serious concerns still exist over issues such as building height and the high level of intensification of proposed apartments. Mr White said that Birkenhead Residents Association is considering an appeal against the decision.

Submitters Get a Second Chance

North Shore Times 9 March, 2007 Written by Kim Reed

Extract from the article: Read the full version.
Submitters opposed to the Chelsea Sugar Refinery plan change will get a second chance to have their views heard because hearing commissioners say an article in the New Zealand Herald could have been misinterpreted.

North Shore City Council's spokesman Trevor Mackie says that the four-day hearing in February was adjourned rather than closed because independent commissioners wanted the opportunity to notify additional submitters.

The issue was raised by a number of submitters that the article in the Herald led the community to believe that the plan change was off and that they didn't need to go the hearing, says Mr Mackie.

The council will be sending letters out to more than 600 submitters to notify them of the latest revisions and to give those who didn't get a chance to speak an opportunity to do so.

Read the full version of this article online.

Submission on behalf of Birkenhead Residents Association

March 1 2007

Extracts from Submission: Read the Full version
1.3 The Association is deeply concerned with the adverse effects on the local community of Birkenhead of the proposed policy & rules for redevelopment. Such effects include a partial destruction of the integrity of the historic Chelsea estate that is so important to the Birkenhead community’s well being. The grounds are well-used by the community and the adverse effects beyond the site, in particular traffic, visual effects, and interruption of the ecological corridor are reasonably considered likely outcomes.

2.12 The Association opposes this plans proposals to guide redevelopment of the Chelsea Estate and therefore seeks that the Plan Change and Amendment be rejected.

Read the Full version of this submission online or as a PDF file

A Timeline Of Events

updated on december 9 2007

Background - It was the vision of the Chelsea Regional Park
Association to protect the Uruamo Headland from Kauri Point to Chelsea as one great urban park for the people of Auckland.
An agreement for the sale of buffer land surrounding the sugar works fell short of protecting the refinery site.

Dec 2005 - NZ Sugar Company Ltd and Chelsea Park Trust announced the conditional sale of 36.7 hectares of parkland for $20 million, subject to the following conditions:-

  1. Chelsea Sugar are able to continue operating on the present 24/7 basis.
  2. Chelsea Park Trust obtaining funds to complete the purchase.
  3. Quote: "That in the unlikely event the refinery was relocated, a suitable pattern of land use for the refinery site is in place for the future."

Apr 2006 - $100 million upgrade in capacity of CSR's sugar refining plant in Melbourne is announced in "The Age"

- Chelsea Mixed Use Overlay Plan Change 16 (incl 527 residential units) was notified to the Public.
- Public meetings regarding Plan Change 16 attracted
large numbers of concerned residents.

May 2006 - Submissions for Plan Change 16 closed 5th May.
Over 500 submissions were received.

Aug 2006 - Submissions were summarised and released for
further submission.

Sep 2006 - Further Submissions closed friday 29th

Feb 2007 - Hearing for plan change 16 (Chelsea) is scheduled for Tues 20 to Thurs 22 February

Feb 12 2007 - Chelsea withdraws detailed plan. The original application for plan change 16 has been amended by deleting the detail planning maps suggesting where buildings would be sited, dispensing with the "Chelsea mixed use overlay area and plan" and introducing the alternative of the "Chelsea future use and conservation zone"

Feb 26 & 27 2007- Bruce & Virginia Stainton, Carol Scott, Douglas Love, Heather Nicholson, Scott Cordes, Geoff Sawyer and Penny Hext made submissions at the hearing.

Mar 8 2007 - Submitters opposed to the Chelsea Sugar Refinery plan change get a second chance to have their views heard because hearing commissioners say an article in the New Zealand Herald could have been misinterpreted. Read the article by Kim Reed.

Nov 2 2007 - The Hearing Commissioners’ decision on submissions (including further submissions) to the Proposed (Private) Plan Change 16 - Chelsea Mixed Use Overlay Area and Plan is released. Click here to view and / or download a copy.

Please Join today to help maintain your community's value

Simply fill in either the Membership form (PDF) or Contact Us