from the Waikanae Wrag
The Eruini Street “Sleight of Hand” — Don’t Be Fooled
The developers at 16-20 Eruini Street (RM250059) are officially back, and they’re betting that a mountain of engineering jargon will be enough to bypass the community.
After a brief “suspension,” they’ve reapplied for Resource Consent, claiming the impacts of their 16-unit “podium” are now “less than minor.”
This isn’t a redesign; it’s a technical distraction.
They are trying to force this through under a cloud of “urgency,” but the fundamental flaws that threaten our beach remain.
To be clear: We are not against development. We want to see our community grow, but it has to be the right stuff in the right areas.
High-intensification belongs near transport hubs and town centres, not crammed into a flood-prone beach community 5km from the nearest train station.
Why this Application Fails the “Test”:
• Massive Design Breaches:
The developer is pushing for nearly 60% building coverage. This isn’t just a “minor” tweak; it’s a 20% breach of the 50% limit set by the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS). They are stripping the “green lungs” out of the site and replacing them with concrete.
• The “Double-Counting” Bluff:
KCDC guidelines require 20m² of functional outdoor living space per unit. Instead, the developer is counting the same patches of dirt as both “backyards” and “engineered flood ponding zones.” You can’t have a functional recreation space that is designed to be an underwater tank.
• The Maintenance Mirage:
Their flood “fix” places critical infrastructure inside private, fenced backyards. How is the Council supposed to maintain a district-wide flood system they can’t legally access?
• Urban Form Failure:
KCDC’s own Design Guidelines state that high density should be located near services. This site has no visitor parking, no nearby shops, and requires an 8m rubbish truck to perform a “5-point turn” just to get out. This is the definition of poor urban form.
The strategy of silence the developer is hoping that by labelling these changes as “minor,” they can avoid a notified hearing and shut the community out.
They are taking the p*** out of the Council, the independent advisors, and you.
We won’t stand by while an inappropriate “hydrologic dam” is built in our backyard.
We support smart growth, but we won’t accept high-risk, “wrong-place” intensification that puts existing homes at risk.
Stay tuned. We’re making it clear to KCDC: “Less than minor” is a fairy tale.
#WaikanaeWRAG#StopRM250059#SmartGrowth#FloodRisk#WaikanaeBeach
Sign and Share our petition — https://chng.it/QCC2kYbD7p
See earlier posts about this plan which is opposed by nearly everyone except Gwyn Compton. —Eds