My Account
Rodney Local Board members have voted not to support a private plan change that would allow a subdivision of up to 200 new homes off McKinney Road in Warkworth.
Aztek Projects wants to rezone around eight hectares between The Grange, John Andrew Drive and McKinney Road from Future Urban to Residential – Mixed Housing Suburban.
However, at this month’s Local Board meeting, members raised a number of concerns over bringing forward the development of the land before it was scheduled for urbanisation in six to 10 years’ time.
They said the proposed development would take place ahead of adequate road safety and traffic infrastructure upgrades that weren’t slated for funding until 2028-32 at the earliest, not least a proposed upgrade of the McKinney Road-SH1 intersection itself.
Members were also concerned that the subdivision would be built before the new wastewater treatment plant at Snells Beach was up and running, meaning homeowners would potentially have no sewerage system.
And they were critical of what they saw as a lack of safe, accessible pedestrian and cycling paths that would connect with existing footpath networks, including those being built by the Board on McKinney Road and Wech Drive, saying it went against the Rodney Greenways Plan.
Auckland Council’s planning team leader Peter Vari said all their concerns could and should be addressed in the Board’s feedback, which would be incorporated into a report for commissioners, who would be deciding on the application at a hearing later in the year.
Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency have already raised concerns over traffic safety and road improvement timing issues (MM, May 9).
