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Frequently Asked Questions
Who or What is
Clevedon CARES (Community Action for a Responsible
Environmental Strategy)?
We are a group of Clevedon residents and people
from the surrounding area, committed to preserving
the rural character of the Clevedon area.
We are currently objecting to a Proposed Plan
Change, by Manukau City Council, which would alter
the zoning of parts of Clevedon from 'Rural 1'
to a specially created Wairoa River Maritime Village
zone. This is an intensive housing development
of 297 small sections on man-made canals planned
for the river, about 4.5km North of Clevedon Village.
Clevedon CARES has the legal status of an incorporated
society.
Why
are you opposed to the Canal Village?
We have a very large number of objections. Here
are just some of the main ones:
1. We don't think that intensive housing of the
type proposed has a place in a rural area such
as ours. In common with the Auckland Regional
Council and with many other people in the Auckland
region, we don't want suburban development spreading
into the countryside
2. The addition of almost 300 new households
would effectively double the local population,
putting a huge strain on local roads, schools,
shopping, health and other facilities and infrastructure.
No overall plan has been formulated for dealing
with this influx
3. Clevedon is a charming village, which has
grown up on the site of an early colonial settlement.
Its unique, historic character would be jeopardised
if there was a sudden expansion of population
in the area
4. Clevedon's character would also be compromised
if North Road (and the main road through Clevedon)
was in constant use by people travelling to and
from the proposed development. We are also concerned
over the prospect of more accidents as a result
of increased traffic on a road with a number of
dangerous stretches
5. The countryside around Clevedon is tranquil
and beautiful. A sudden major population influx
would impact unfavourably on the countryside,
particularly on those parts abutting North Road
and the proposed development
6. The Proposed Plan Change is for a residential
development only. This means that a wide range
of businesses and services would need to be developed
in the surrounding area, to serve the new community.
These have the potential to completely change
the character of Clevedon itself and the countryside
around it
7. While the Plan Change seems intended just
to allow the Canal Village development, it would
almost certainly lower the legal barriers to other
developments that could be equally out of keeping
with the environment
8. Water quality in the Wairoa River is likely
to be effected by discharges from the canals and
the new settlement. Petrol, diesel, oil , sediment,
storm water and waste water could all be expected
to act as contaminants
9. A large-scale dredging operation would be
needed to establish the Canal Village. Because
silt builds up rapidly at the river mouth, major
dredging exercises would become regular events
if the proposed development went ahead
10. The proposed development would disturb the
celebrated Clevedon oyster beds which are to the
East of the river mouth. The estuary is also the
feeding ground of native bird species and of the
rare migratory bird, the Dotterel. Some damage
to native plant life is also foreseen.
In addition to these issues of substance, Clevedon
CARES is concerned at the way that the Manukau
City Council proposed the Plan Change without
first carrying out an extensive consultation process
with the local community. We are also critical
of the minimal time provided for local people
to object to the proposal.
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Isn't it
too late to do anything to stop the Canal Village
development?
By no means! Manukau City Council has not yet
concluded the consent process needed for finalising
the Plan Change.
You have till Wednesday 24th May to make a submission
to Council objecting to the change. A large number
of people in the Clevedon area have already expressed
their opposition to the proposed development.
If we can show overwhelming local opposition,
it will be very difficult for Council to go ahead
with the Plan Change.
At this stage, Council cannot accept submissions
which raise wholly new issues. But you can make
a submission supporting one of those already lodged.
You can study these on Manukau City's website
at www.manukau.govt.nz/tec/district/planchange/PC13SubmissionsSummary.pdf
Clevedon CARES submission is No.52. Another important
submission is No. 301, which was lodged by the
Auckland Regional Council (ARC).
Objections to the Plan Change have come from
a number of important organisations, including
the ARC, Water Care Services Limited, the Mid
North Branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection
Society and our local Clevedon Volunteer Fire
Brigade. With that kind of support, it's well
worth sticking to our principles!
The developers
have already committed a lot of money to the Canal
Housing project. At this stage, wouldn't it be
better to just let the plan go ahead?
Certainly not!
A bad idea doesn't become a good idea, simply
because a lot of money has been thrown at it.
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How else
can I oppose the Plan Change?
You can add your name to our online petition
(click here). This
will also help send a message to Council. But
the petition probably won't carry as much weight
as submissions with Council. So, make a submission
AND add your name to the petition!
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Do I need to
live in the Clevedon area to support Clevedon
CARES?
No you don't. We have support from people all
over the Auckland region. Many people from outside
the area appreciate Clevedon's special charm and
the beauty of our countryside. And people also
appreciate that our campaign is relevant to other
areas, where developers may be seeking to impose
projects in defiance of ARC policies and the wishes
of local people.
Wherever you live, your are free to make a submission
to the Manukau City Council or to add your name
to our online petition.
Aren't you
just saying: "not in my backyard"?
No we're certainly not NIMBYs!
We're not opposing something that's vital or
necessary and needs to go somewhere. It's open
to question whether gated communities or canal
villages are necessary or even desirable. In fact,
canal villages have been banned in some Australian
states.
Moreover, the Wairoa River Canal Village is opposed
by the Auckland Regional Council primarily because
the proposed development doesn't fit in with the
ARC's big picture for our region. That's certainly
not a NIMBY point of view!
We believe that many Aucklanders want to stop
the city spreading out into the countryside, with
all that entails in terms of clogged motorways,
environmental damage and suburban sprawl.
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What's
so special about Clevedon?
Clevedon is part of New Zealand's heritage. There
aren't many old settlements around Auckland which
have such a cohesive and defined village atmosphere.
Clevedon is a particularly unique and charming
village. And, unlike the proposed development,
it's a real village that has grown up over time
and is the natural centre of the local rural community.
The Wairoa River is also part of our heritage.
It has great historical and cultural significance
for both Maori and Pakeha. The proposed development
will substantially alter the appearance of the
river's estuary.
Aren't
the developers planning to plant wetlands around
the development, in order to protect wildlife?
They are talking about five separate, narrow
strips of wetland. Unfortunately, narrow strips
have little environmental value as the outside
edges of wetland areas are always vulnerable .
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Aren't
the developers paying for long-overdue roading
improvements?
As far as we are aware, the developers have only
agreed to pay for improvements to the part of
the road abutting the proposed development. But,
if the development goes ahead, there will be massively
increased road traffic right along North Road.
This is a serious matter as North Road has several
dangerous stretches and there have been a number
of fatal accidents. It's reasonable to expect
more accidents if traffic increases.
Aren't you really saying that
you don't want the Clevedon area to develop?
No, we're not saying that.
There may well be room for more people here,
albeit in smaller numbers than the proposed development
has in mind.
But it has to be the right kind of development
which will integrate with the rural character
of the area, not one based on intensive housing.
And essential pre-conditions for any development
are a Council plan for the area and sufficient
infrastructure to cope with the additional people.
We have neither of these at the moment!
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