12 August, 2022

Minor changes for Bayswater plan ahead of hearing

Four minor changes to Bayswater Marina Ltd’s (BML’s) proposed development have been made ahead of a formal hearing, which begins on 20 September.

Most of the BML application is unchanged from when it was first lodged in March 2021.

It proposes around 119 units (27 apartments and 92 terraced houses) plus commercial offices and some retail and hospitality services.

The changes include:

• Relocation of 12 of the 14 terraced dwellings located in the central precinct westwards (with two dwellings removed) to make better provision for the 20 car-and-trailer parking spaces.

• Revised circulation routes to improve safety, including utilising slow-speed shared space along the Sir Peter Blake Pde extension and improving the one-way traffic circulation within the central precinct and adjacent boat ramp.

• Improving pedestrian-safety measures, such as changing some of the pedestrian-crossing locations and putting in traffic-calming measures.

• Altering the footpath layout to allow four more berth-holder parks. The proposed amendments are improve- ments to the original application in response to feedback from submissions, council reviewing officers and specialists, lawyer for BML Kit Littlejohn said. As the amendments were minor, an entirely new application was not needed and the hearing should go ahead without re-notification, Littlejohn said. A BML spokesman said the changes provided for a dedicated boat-ramp manoeuvring area and diagonal boat-and-trailer parking in a central concourse/shared space.

• A public pre-hearing workshop hosted by the Bayswater Community Committee is planned on 17 August at Bayswater Hall from 6.30pm. Auckland Council’s planning report will be summarised and submitters given help.

Officials happy with revised proposal

The marina village application should be granted with only minor changes, say Auckland Council planners.

Independent Hearing commissioners Greg Hill (chair), Karyn Sinclair, Ian Munro and Stephanie Mead will make a decision on the application after considering evidence from council, submitters and the applicant.

But council says most of its technical-specialist reviews are “generally supportive” of the proposal, particularly in regard to visual impacts, the principles of the urban design framework, ecological impacts, groundwater, infrastructure, traffic generation, design of the road network, parking and ramp acoustic impacts, loss of marine-servicing uses and open-space provisions.

Thirty-eight submitters were in support of the proposal, 10 were neutral and 682 were in opposition. However, some of the issues appeared to be resolved by design tweaks to the application, says the council report.

While five of eight marine-related businesses would go as part of the development, this is offset by the wider benefits, the council report

said. “Tangible public benefits (are) achieved by the redevelopment of the site with the provision of new public open spaces and the coastal walkway”.

The revised ramp design and trailer parking provide long-term sustainable access to support and enable marine activities.

“Whilst the loss of the site’s existing boat storage activity will inconvenience the ex- isting users and result in the loss of marine activities, it would have positive effects for the wider community in terms of the site’s increased open space and improved access to the coast.”

The 15-metre marginal strip was adequate. The general location of the publicly accessible open space is “appropriate and achieves the intention of the Bayswater Marina Precinct. Further, the plans will enhance both enjoyment and access to the coast by the public.”

The size of the residential development was also seen as appropriate, especially now the government has passed legislation allowing greater intensification across most of Auckland.