A 1200-home housing development on farmland west of Auckland's Ōrewa has been granted fast-track approval, subject to wastewater conditions that could require tanker loads of treated effluent to be trucked to Whangārei.
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop confirmed the Delmore project as the 30th development approved under the fast-track process and the 11th in Auckland.
The 61-hectare project, undertaken by Auckland-based land development company Vineway and overseen by property developer Myland Partners, consists of more than 1200 residential dwellings, a commercial area, two neighbourhood parks and a network of protected ecological areas, along with a new State Highway 1 interchange.
Bishop said the independent expert panel found the project would deliver significant regional benefits.
"The project is predicted to contribute $1.22 billion to the local economy over 25 years, as well as to ecological restoration through the management of approximately 44 hectares of indigenous vegetation and creation of new wetland environments," he said.
However, Auckland's Watercare had said it could not connect Delmore to public infrastructure until at least 2033, meaning the development would rely on private water and wastewater services.
Auckland Council and Watercare had opposed the development in submissions to the fast-track panel for those reasons.
Bishop said wastewater for the first stage would be treated and discharged on site, with treated wastewater transported off site during summer periods when necessary.
"Before the second stage of the development can proceed, the applicant will be required to obtain further approvals for a long-term wastewater solution," he said.
Whangārei wastewater concerns
The prospect of treated wastewater being trucked north has drawn criticism, according to Local Democracy Reporting.
Save Our Harbour campaign leader Tim Howard told LDR he was worried about additional pressure on Whangārei's wastewater system, saying it had been irresponsible for the expert panel to grant approval without first sorting the infrastructure.
Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper told LDR the treatment plant treated only a small portion of what was allowed under its consent, but said no formal agreement had been presented to the council.
"Any request to use Whangārei's wastewater infrastructure would need to be carefully evaluated to ensure it does not negatively impact services, infrastructure capacity, environmental outcomes or residents," Couper said.
He said any wastewater accepted would be subject to appropriate charges so costs would not fall on Whangārei ratepayers.
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