The Creswick Valley residents association in Wellington is up in arms about a large scale big box development proposal by Prime Property Group, which could see more than 4500 truck loads of fill being carted into Curtis Street.
The proposed development follows the association successfully taking the Wellington City Council to the High Court in 2012, where it was found that rezoning the site at 55-85 Curtis Street from open space/residential to business 2 was not publicly notified and was illegal.
Following the High Court loss, last year the Wellington City Council publicly notified a district plan change to create a Curtis Street business area. Sixty-five concerned residents and organisations made submissions with only 5 in favour of the new zone.
The outcome was a site specific business area with minor provisions to protect the glow-worm dell on Old Karori Road. The association and the developer Prime Property Group, are now appealing this zoning in the environment court.
The Council has publicly notified the earthworks consent application, and has deemed the impact of these earthworks as ‘less than minor’.
At a public meeting Creswick Valley residents’ association chairperson Sarah Holden outlined what the community is now facing, which includes 4,500 truck-loads of fill and clearing more than 2000m2 of vegetation to develop the site
Holden is urging residents to make a submission on the earthworks application before the 1 April deadline.
“We took them to court and won, but now unfortunately we have to fight again to save our valley. We won’t give up and the Council can expect a flood of submissions”, says Holden.
