Sanctum Projects has had its application to build townhouses on Waimarie Street and Riddell Road approved. Photo: Supplied / Environmental Protection Authority
*An earlier version of this story incorrectly quoted Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson and has since been corrected.
East Auckland's St Heliers residents are up in arms that a development for dozens of town houses on just three sections has been fast-tracked.
They say they were not given the chance to voice their concerns about how the neighbourhood's infrastructure will cope with the homes, some of which could be three storeys high.
But as the city grapples with the debate over intensification, Auckland Council is reassuring them that their concerns will be addressed.
The developer, Sanctum Projects, applied to the Environmental Protection Authority for permission to build the townhouses on Waimarie Street and Riddell Road, as part of the Covid-19 Recovery Act, which has seen it approved by an independent consenting panel within 123 days.
Residents had expected it to take much longer to process and say the fast-tracking has not given them the opportunity to comment on the impact on their area.
But Allan Merry said that should not have been possible.
"I think this whole legislation that's been brought in by central government needs to be completely repealed. It no longer has a place in modern planning, and it's really giving rise to unsatisfactory, high density developments."
Merry was worried that storm water run-off from the build would cause more flooding on his property, which was already at risk during downpours.
He also believed the large scale of intensification was not right for the area.
"The quality of the housing that they're proposing, the density of it, and the style of property is completely incongruous of the rest of that area, or this area of St Heliers."
Ōrākei Local Board chair Scott Milne said it was a terrible decision.
"The board is bitterly disappointed with this decision, and I would say the community will be devastated."
Milne also said residents had not been given a proper say.
"There's a real feeling that there's been a loss, or an absence of true democratic process, when we're forced to consult on so many seemingly insignificant things, and yet, to not have the opportunity to have our voices heard on some very serious things, then we feel pretty upset."
The size of the development had raised eyebrows, Milne said.
"We do not feel there has been an appropriate place for [58] units, we don't feel that the community will be enhanced by it, and we're particularly concerned about some of the parameters that have been accepted by the commissioners."
However, Ōrākei ward councillor and deputy mayor Desley Simpson said there were two sides to the debate.
"I do recognise the importance of developers being able to provide new houses for our growing city, and the balance of that against the need for developments to be sympathetic to existing parts of the city, and be properly assessed on their effects for current residents," Simpson said.
“I am well aware of some community disquiet about this development, which would replace 3 houses with 58. Existing residents are querying whether existing infrastructure, including roading and water services, can cope with developments of this nature particularly following the weather events this year.
“This development hasn’t followed “normal” council consenting process. It has been assessed under the Fast Track Consenting Act put in place by central government during Covid. I do know the referral order to the expert consenting panel was required to assess things like the existing waters services, stormwater management, an integrated transport assessment and urban design considerations such as landscaping and shading of adjoining properties.
“Given the independent nature of the process, it’s probably not appropriate to comment on the decision one way or the other. In general terms however, I recognise the importance of developers being able to provide new houses for our growing city, balanced against the need for developments to be sympathetic to existing parts of the city and be properly assessed on their effects for current residents. This includes the ability for the existing below the ground infrastructure to cope with the increased density."
Locals have the right to appeal the development within 15 working days of the panel's decision.
Sanctum Projects has been approached for comment.