27 Hunters Rd and 42 Whero Ave land options

We own a large block of land in Diamond Harbour that we no longer need. Five options for the future of the land have been developed and we’d like to know which one you prefer.

Project status: Closed for feedback
Open for feedback: 15 October 2021 to 16 November 2021

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Update June 2021

Council approved the staff recommendations for Hunters Road/Whero Avenue land options, with an additional resolution, on Thursday 9 June 2022.

You can view the meeting minutes, which include the formal resolutions, online at christchurch.infocouncil.biz(external link) (section 11).  You can watch the two deputations(external link), skip to 3 minutes 30 seconds and the decision being made here.(external link)

Additional resolution

  • Request that the outline development plan prioritises climate change adaptation and the ability for local residents to age in place in the considerations as far as possible.

What happens next?

We will prepare a draft Outline Development Plan (ODP) with input from the community and Council’s infrastructure (water, transport, waste water teams), also Citizens and Community and Resource teams. We will also take into account the submissions already received.

Our initial step is to gather information about infrastructure capacity.  Following this, we will be in contact again with a project plan including timeframes for the next steps.


Update November 2021

People were able to provide feedback from 15 October 2021 to 16 November 2021.

During this time we heard from 234 individuals and groups. 

Summary of feedback received

  • The majority of submitters actually want a mixture of the options.
  • Consistently across all options, people want the gullies ‘protected’ – either with covenants or as reserves.
  • There is support for the development of the land, but people highlighted the importance of doing it in a staged way, and that upgrades to water and roading infrastructure would be needed.
  • Whatever happens to this land, there is a clear indication from the community that they want to be involved in the process, to make sure any development is sympathetic to the existing environment and community.

Submissions [PDF, 2.9 MB]

Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board's submission [PDF, 110 KB]

Consultation analysis [PDF, 192 KB]

Meeting details and decision-making process

A staff report will be presented to the Council who will then make the final decision. I will be back in contact when the Council have arranged their meetings for the new year.


Background

We have owned the land at 27 Hunter Road and 42 Whero Avenue, Diamond Harbour, since 1913. It was set aside for the development and expansion of Diamond Harbour and has been zoned for potential residential development for at least the past 40 years.

In general, we don’t take on the risks associated with residential development, so this has not occurred.

The land includes three gullies that have been allowed to revegetate. The balance of the land is leased for grazing, but this income does not cover the costs of owning the land, with the annual loss being about $15,000.

We have plans to protect the gullies for their environmental and landscape values, but no plans for the balance of the land.

As the land had been identified as being surplus to our requirements, we took the opportunity during our Long Term Plan 2021-31 consultation process to ask the community’s view on what should be done.

We have identified a future need for increased cemetery capacity in the wider Diamond Harbour area. Investigations are under way to identify a suitable site on this land. If part of this land is required we will consult with the Diamond Harbour community. 

Land sale proposal plan [PNG, 1.7 MB]

Proposed covenant areas

We have been working closely with the Diamond Harbour Reserves Management Committee to enter into covenants under S77 of the Reserves Act 1977 to protect the three gullies.

These covenants are used to preserve:

  • Natural environments
  • Landscapes
  • Wildlife
  • Freshwater habitats
  • Marine habitats
  • Areas of historic value

The gullies that we propose protecting are:

  Sams Valley Gully

B   Morgans Valley Gully

C   Unnamed gully

Covenant areas [PNG, 1.1 MB]

A covenant would require a Management Plan to be prepared and will include (but not be limited to):

  • Walkways
  • Planting plans and schedule
  • Restricted areas
  • Pest control

A Management Plan would be prepared in collaboration with the Diamond Harbour Reserves Management Committee.

History

Lyttelton Borough Council acquired the land in 1913 under the Lyttelton Borough Extension Act 1911(external link). This local act authorised the Council to obtain certain land outside borough boundaries to meet the needs of the population – suitable land for building on.

The original parcel was much larger and successive Councils have subdivided and sold sections to private interests for residential development, notably in 1925, 1930, 1933, 1948 and 1973. In 1969 the Crown acquired part of the land for Diamond Harbour School. There has been no subdivision or sales since 1973, although easements have been made for NIWA and Orion, and a private right of way for 2 Kura Lane.

LTP 2021-2031 consultation feedback and Council resolution

As a result of feedback to the Long Term Plan 2021-31, the Council asked staff to undertake targeted consultation to gather more information.

The full resolution from the LTP Council meeting:

  1. That the Council defer a decision about the properties at 27 Hunters Road and 42 Whero Avenue, Diamond Harbour until a targeted consultation process can be undertaken to gather additional information to support the material gathered through the LTP consultation process.
  2. Council create a project in the first year of the LTP and set aside a budget of $65,000 for this purpose. Report back to Council for a final decision as part of the FY2022/23 annual plan process.

Submissions and staff responses(external link) from the  Long Term Plan 2021-2031 for the sale of land in Diamond Harbour.

Options

Option 1: Complete covenant and sell

Place a covenant over Sams Gully, Morgans Gully and the third unnamed gully, with protections for the walkways, and dispose of the remainder of the land. (Our preferred option) 

Advantages Disadvantages Observations
Protects the gullies  Set-up costs of covenants and easements Sale does not mean that the property will be developed quickly, or at all.  We have held the land for more than 100 years, without seeing demand for significant development.
 Ensures walking tracks are protected   We can still influence development direction through the Christchurch District Plan and the resource consent process.
Reduces costs to ratepayers   Anyone wishing to subdivide this land would need to apply for a subdivision consent. Whether there would be public consultation would depend on the subdivision design. A subdivision that complied with zoning rules in the district plan would probably not need to be notified.
Generates a capital return that can be used to meet other community needs   Development contributions help fund any consequential upgrades to transport and three-waters infrastructure

Option 2: Retain as a park

In the short term, this would result in no change, with the gullies continuing to be revegetated through community partnerships and the flat land leased for grazing.

At this stage, there is no identified need for additional parkland.

Advantages Disadvantages Observations
Ongoing public ownership and control There does not appear to be evidence that additional parkland is required to meet community needs. It is likely that the land will remain untouched for at least 10 years as we have not planned to turn this land into a park
Increased accessibility to grazed areas over time Ratepayers will face ongoing holding costs, and increased development, maintenance and operational expenses The flat areas are likely to remain leased for grazing for at least 10 years and generally will not be accessible to the community

Option 3: Council develops the land

We could consider developing the property, in consultation with the community, either directly or with a development partner.  This is likely to carry significant financial risk – the revenue gained may be less than the cost of development – and is not our core business. We are unaware of any significant demand for residential development in Diamond Harbour.

Advantages Disadvantages
Allows for community input into development Development risks – We are not a land developer and there is unknown demand
Would provide revenue stream if economically viable  

Option 4: Transfer ownership to the community

As we don’t need the land but it is valued by the community, it could be transferred into community ownership.  This could be at below market price, subject to us being able to recover the capital value of the land should the community decide to dispose of it or develop it in the future.

Advantages Disadvantages Observations
Local community controls land Community carries holdings costs It is likely that an appropriate community entity may need to be set up to own the land
We don’t incur costs from holding the land   Obtaining community consensus on the future use of the land may be difficult, but not impossible
Revenue from sale    
No need for covenants    

Option 5: Status Quo

Finalise the covenant over Sams Gully, Morgans Gully and the third gully, with protections for the walkways, and continue to graze the flat land.

Advantages Disadvantages
Maintains status quo Holding costs of $15,000 per annum
  No revenue for sale

Next steps

  • Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/ Banks Peninsula Community Board will review the consultation feedback.
  • Council will make the final decision as part of the FY2022/23 Annual Plan process.

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Who to contact

How the decision is made

  • Closed for feedback

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