My Account
Some of the strongest flak directed at the draft Warkworth Structure Plan relates to industrial zoned land.
At a public meeting in April, the One Warkworth Business Association slammed the plan for fragmenting industrial land into separate areas that it said were “poorly located”, and argued should be designated for general business rather than industrial land.
Auckland Council is currently finalising an Engagement Report following public consultation on the structure plan, which will summarise public submissions and Council’s response.
Despite the fact the report is still to be completed, Council planner Ryan Bradley was willing to share the gist of the submissions on the industrial land proposals.
He says overall there was support for increasing the amount of industrial land to enable more local employment and prevent Warkworth becoming a commuter town.
There was also support for adding new industrial land around existing industrial zones to limit the phenomenon of “reverse sensitivity”. This is where new land uses can have the effect of detrimentally affecting established land uses.
Nevertheless, critics continued to blast the plan on several fronts.
Key concerns were that:
• There is too much industrial land and it will turn Warkworth into a blue-collar town.
• The plan should provide more land for high-skilled jobs in technology and research.
• There is better industrial land available further north with good road connections.
• Industry is placed next to residential areas with little to protect the residential areas from noise and dust.
• More land should be made available for large format retail stores.
• Industrial land should not be placed near waterways.
Mr Bradley says Council will respond to these criticisms as part of its engagement report. Some will likely generate changes to the draft plan. He feels other concerns already have straightforward answers. For example, he says the industrial zones are not limited to low skilled, factory-type employment, but can also accommodate facilities for advanced technology and research.
Once revisions have been made, the structure plan will be considered by Council’s Planning Committee on June 4.
What the draft structure plan proposes …
The draft Warkworth Structure Plan proposes three additional chunks of industrial land in and around Warkworth.
Northern industrial land: This comprises flat land that fronts State Highway 1, opposite existing light industry zoned land. The southern boundary of this land adjoins a stream. It’s anticipated an “esplanade reserve” (20 metres on either side of the stream bank) will provide a buffer between the industrial land and residential areas. Arterial roads will provide further buffers to residential areas. The plan recommends landscape screening along the land fronting SH1 to create a pleasant northern entrance to Warkworth rather than an unpleasant industrial one.
Southern industrial land: This comprises an extension of the established Morrison Drive/Glenmore Drive light industrial area. The land is sloping and the slopes are mostly south facing, which is not ideal for residential development but can suit industrial development. As in the north, arterial roads will be used to buffer the industrial area from other land uses and landscape screening is planned to contain any unpleasant visual impact.
South-western industrial land: This new industrial area is near a potential southern interchange of the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway (currently under construction). This means the land would have good access to the national freight network. The land is bordered by the motorway, Woodcocks Road and the right branch of the Mahurangi River. It’s anticipated the area will have an esplanade reserve on both sides of the river creating a 40-metre separation between the industrial land and neighbouring uses.
Industrial land designations in draft Warkworth Structure Plan.
