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Victoria Road
Auckland, Auckland, 0624
New Zealand
Devonport Heritage 2017, an incorporated society formed in 2017, promotes heritage and sustainable development in Devonport.
A bumper issue of the Devonport Flagstaff this week with a wide range of heritage issues covered - from the front page, editorial and letters columns.
Photo from National Library Whites Aviation collection Date: 10 Apr 1952 From: Whites Aviation Ltd :Photographs Ref: WA-30496-G
Hearings on the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan a.k.a PAUP are finishing on 13 May, so when will we see the final version of the plan?
The following are the key statutory milestones binding Council in terms of responding to the IHP recommendations.
13th May Hearings for all topics completed
22nd July IHP recommendations version of the PAUP presented to Council
19 August IHP recommendations and Council decision notified
16 September Appeal period closes.
Parts not subject to appeal deemed adopted (i.e. have legal effect)
December Plan becomes operative subject to governing body meeting.
It looks as though there will just be a "recommended" version of the plan which won't show the original text compared to the final text, so if you want to look at what changes the Commissioners are making, you will have to go back to the original as notified and compare the two documents.
On Monday 9th May we will be giving our final presentation relating to building heights in the Devonport commercial area, in particular .The hearing, which has been re-convened by the Commissioners begins at 9.30 at Tower 1, Level 16, 205 Queen Street, Auckland CBD behind the ANZ bank. We expect to be speaking at 10.45 a.m. We would like as many members as possible to come and support us on this crucial issue.
On Tuesday 19 April our Chairperson Trish Deans presented our submission on the various special Precincts in the Unitary Plan and what impact they could have on our heritage. A good presentation with power point - The chair, Des Morrison congratulated her for her submission. We have one final presentation in May, the re-opened hearing on the local volcanoes, see our earlier news posts. We'd like as many members as possible to come along as supporters on the day.
Historic view of Mt Victoria from the foot of the main street
Auckland's Volcanic Cone issue is being re-opened by the Unitary Plan panel. It has been proposed that building height in about half the Devonport business centre be raised to 13 metres. At present the shopping centre is covered by the Height Sensitive Area which allows only buildings to 9m. This has been in place for forty years but is now under threat.
The new map that has been pushed forward determinedly by the Devonport Business Association, allows for only the facade of the heritage buildings on the western side of Victoria Road to be kept at the present height , with taller buildings up to 13m to rise up right behind them.
We believe this is facadism of the worst kind and will ruin the heritage buildings and obscure views to Mt Victoria. The proposal will also allow for four storey buildings along the northern side of Fleet Street, throughout most of the the supermarket car-park, the east side of Wynyard Street and along a section of Clarence Street.
if these changes are approved they will result in the loss of views and also damage the relationship the village has with Mt Victoria. It could potentially ruin Devonport's identity and its sense of place.
Devonport Heritage Inc will be vigorously opposing this at the re-convened hearing on Viewshafts on May 4.
A link to our submission and further information can be found here
Previously 8m was the maximum for Victoria Road, under the current proposal it could go as high as 13m
Victoria Road in 2016
The Maunga Authority is calling for the public to make submissions. Submitters are being asked to comment on the proposed strategies that will manage the conservation of all the 14 Maunga. There will be further opportunities to comment on the individual plans for Takarunga (Mt Victoria) and Maungauika (North Head) at a later date.
Devonport Heritage will comment on the following: protect the integrity of the Maunga, give people and pedestrian access priority, ensure that the Auckland view-shafts focused on the Tupuna Maunga are maintained and preserved, that commercial activities of the leaseholders remain at the same level and are not increased, that appropriate signage is used and has a low impact, develop traffic control management plans that have application to all Maunga, incorporate on-road bike access with city and nationwide bike schemes.
The submissions are due by 29th April, either email maunga.authority@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or post to Tupuna Maunga Authority, PB 92300, Victoria St West, Auck 1142. To view the PDF files visit the Auckland Council website and enter Integrated Management Plan in the search box: PDF 1 describes the background while PDF 2 gives the information regarding the future plans for the 14 Maunga.
Devonport Heritage is lobbying for public notification of the proposed facility at Wakakura Crescent/Ngataringa Road. It seems a little disingenuous for this to be described as a "village" , when it is in fact a complex of multi-story buildings being inserted into a quiet residential neighbourhood.
We have no argument with a retirement complex as a concept, but the size and scale must be appropriate to the site and respect for the heritage aspects of the site should be front of mind.
At present the site is zoned Residential 4B, and whole the proposed Unitary Plan allows development of 3-4 storeys, this application is applying to build 5 and 6 storey blocks. The Urban Design Panel have looked at the application and in their opinion further consideration of heights and lengths of blocks is needed, along with looking at view-shafts between the blocks.
This issue has many aspects other than the widely publicised effects on traffic: i.e exemption for providing a public esplanade along the foreshore _"Pollys Park/ The Glade"; removal of trees; excavation and alteration of a heritage site ( all Discretionary Activities ) and the demolition of an Archaeological Site -Duder's Brickworks ( Non-Complying Activity)
Devonport Heritage is very concerned about the re-building process currently taking place at the Masonic site on King Edward Parade.
From media photographs it appears the whole of the hotel has been demolished, even the parts that were scheduled for preservation.
We have asked our local Auckland Council representatives to make inquiries into the level of demolition that has been taking place behind the white plastic shroud. Council planners have replied that staff has been monitoring the works and have found them to be 'in general compliance'.
This is their official response:
" At Council¹s last scheduled inspection the works were in general accordance. Some parts of the building that were marked for retention/reconditioning were in worse condition (borer/rot and were crumbling, seen on site) than previously thought and had to be demolished. All extra demolition work has been reviewed and approved by Ian Bowman. This approach is typical for projects of this type (where the exact condition of fabric is not known until works begin), and was provided for by the consent through the approved Conservation Plan and Conservation Methodology."
However we have very little faith in the process and believe this answer is a very convenient excuse for demolition. We have asked for proof in the form of photos about the state of the scheduled parts of the building. To prove that this is not a case of demolition by stealth we also ask that the council require a demolition plan which lays out exactly which original features that are Scheduled A items are to remain and which have been demolished and we would ask to be shown this as Environment Court submitters. We believe this is the only way the community can have any faith in the process. We are also concerned that the site owner has applied to change the resource consent for a cafe in the old hotel's ground floor into office space. We have called for this application to be publicly notified as it is a marked change from the original consent and will effectively rule our any community engagement with the building and deactivate the corner.
This week we presented at yet another Unitary Plan hearing for Topic 79 - this was with regard to the Pre1944 Heritage overlay. Please find the text of our presentation on the link below.
We have one last hearing coming up, that one will deal with Precincts, including Wakakura Crescent where Ryman are planning their multi-storey complex and also covers Fort Cautley.
Making a submission on the proposed daycare in Victoria Road? Here are some of the details you will need and a link to a printable submission form. You can also fill in an on-line version on the council's website, and attach any supporting documents as well. SUBMISSIONS CLOSE AT 5 P.M THIS TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY.
Submission form details to fill in:
The details to use in your submissions are:
Application number : LN2142117 Name of Applicant: Butterbee Childcare Address of proposed activity: 159 Victoria Road, Devonport 0624
IMPORTANT - you must send a copy of your submission to the applicant as soon as reasonably practical c/- The Planning Room, P O BOX 35 674 Browns Bay, 0753, attn. Duncan Ross.
Devonport Heritage welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on the notified consent for a childcare centre at 159 Victoria Road, Devonport.
The house at 159 Victoria Road is a significant heritage building that makes a strong contribution to a landmark corner of Devonport.
It was built in 1885/86 for Samuel Tanfield an important figure in early Devonport and the house, with its highly intricate fretwork, reflects his status.
Early photos show these original decorative details are still very much intact today giving the house a strong heritage impact on its surroundings.
Another important New Zealand figure lived in the house - Kathleen Niccol who became the renowned singing tutor Dame Sister Mary Leo. Dame Sister Mary Leo lived there from her birth in to about 1906, when they moved to the city. She was the great granddaughter of Henry Niccol who had the early shipbuilding yard at Devonport and granddaughter of the first mayor of Devonport, Malcolm Niccol.
The conversion of this heritage house to a large commercial child care facility will mean the permanent loss of the building as an historic home. The intrusive changes and additions will mean it will be no longer suitable as a residential dwelling.
The large addition to the rear and side of the house is of an unsympathetic design and will permanently detract from the standing of the house on its site. Aluminium joinery and a large access ramp abutting the historic house will be a further blight. The addition will mean the loss of one if the chimneys and the new building will be highly visible from the street and from Mt Victoria.
Overall the application demonstrates a lack of awareness of the heritage nature of the house. It does not include any analysis from a heritage architect on how the effects on heritage values could be mitigated by the proposed additions and alterations.
It claims the proposal is a good example of adaptive reuse but the house is quite able to continue as a residential dwelling or at the very least a small scale child care facility which would avoid the adverse effects of this present application.
Anyone can make a submission, it's an easy process. The application can be accessed from the Council website
We wish to re-iterate that we are not opposed to childcare facilities, however we are concerned with the effect this will have on a historic home. The application is non-complying. Further historical background is available on our downloads page
The full text of our submission will be on our website prior to submissions closing on 9th February.
Joel Cayford is a Devonport resident, former regional and city councillor and consultant in public policy, urban planning and more. Today his blog included this insightful and heartfelt piece on the Masonic Hotel which stood until recently largely demolished on the Devonport waterfront since 1866.
http://joelcayford.blogspot.com/2015/12/heritage-restorations-hollow-ring.html
BREAKING NEWS >>>>>We’ve recently been supporting neighbours who are unhappy about the proposed child care centre at 159 Victoria Rd which we believe should be a notified hearing. Today we have been informed that this is being notified. A neighbour has done some fantastic research into the property revealing that among other things it was the childhood home of Dame Sister Mary Leo, who grew up there as Kathleen Niccol. The house dates from the late 1880s, and although it is not a scheduled property currently, there has recently been a nomination forwarded to Heritage New Zealand to register it as a Historic Place. We will put the research material on our Downloads page.
Here's the link to the application and documents, and submission forms :
Once again ,we have no issue with providing childcare, but this location has high heritage values being adjacent to a number of scheduled places and buildings – Dr Bennett's house next door at No. 157, the neighbouring group of local shops , St Leo’s school “hall”, the Jubilee Clock , the two historic churches, and the Mt Victoria graveyards. Incremental changes will undoubtedly have a damaging effect on the overall character of the neighbourhood, and this is a particularly visible site, being on the main road into the historic village centre.
In other recent news, Ryman Healthcare have unveiled development plans for a retirement village on their leased Ngataringa Road/Wakakura Crescent block . This will include 5 and 6 storey buildings on the 4.2 hectare site, which under the proposed Unitary Plan allowed staggered heights from 8 - 14.5 m (2- 4 storeys). The plan explains the logic for this as “ the large site areas of the precincts provide the opportunity to locate up to 4 storey buildings away from established residential areas, and surrounding areas generally to mitigate any adverse visual or dominance effect.
In our submission on the plan we submitted that the Wakakura block should revert to the same zoning and density as the adjacent Ngataringa Road residential area. In addition to this the housing immediately opposite has been retained in the Pre-1944 Historic Character Overlay. These groups of houses will be considered for inclusion in the Historic Character Zone that covers the main parts of Devonport. We will be speaking to the submission at hearings next year. Meanwhile multiple resource consent processes are underway. This includes determining if the public is able to have any input or not.
We have no issue with use of the land as a retirement village, but we are concerned with the visual effect of the buildings, dominance and how that relates to the heritage context of the street and underlying historic values.
This block of land has a very rich historical past, being the site of the early brickworks, and adjacent to the ancient maori portage from the Waitemata to Ngataringa Bay. Remains of the brickworks machinery can be seen as you walk through the bay-side glade, and it’s quite possible maori artefacts could be found too.
Purple shading and crosses show Pre-1944 Historic Character Overlay
There are many concerns that are raised by this development and public debate and participation need to be allowed to occur.
Lastly, we are watching re-development of the historic Masonic Hotel with interest, subsequent to our earlier report of large-scale demolition. It is to be hoped that as much historic fabric as possible is being restored for use in the building.
Our Annual General Meeting was well attended and the new committee will meet at the end of January. Meantime please contact us by e-mail devonport.heritage@gmail.com
Merry Christmas
Claudia Page - newsletter editor
As part of the Unitary Plan process, Auckland Council released updated maps on 30 October. These show the results of work on the precautionary Pre-1944 building overlay and also changes to the Historic Character overlay( previously called Special Character). Devonport Heritage are investigating the removal of the Historic Character overlay from the end of Stanley Point, which would give it different planning rules with regard to demolition, new buildings and additions and alterations to all other areas on the Devonport Peninsula. We had not been aware of any potential changes to the overlay, which has existed in Devonport for about 20 years. In the map below you can see the area with grey squares at the end of Stanley Point where it is now proposed that the overlay be removed. The blue shading shows areas to be retained. Pre-1944 areas have also been adjusted with a much smaller area now being considered. This particular overlay is likely to have a 'sunset clause' with heritage assessments completed within about 2 years of the plan becoming fully operative.
Check back here soon for updates to this developing story.
PAUP - Revised maps of heritage overlays Devonport. Blue colour denotes Historic Character overlay to be retained. Mauve denotes Pre-1944 overlay to be retained.
Notice of Annual General Meeting 2015
Our Annual General Meeting is held in late November each year. This year the meeting will be held on Monday 30 November. 7.30 p.m. at the Devonport Library. We welcome any member or supporter , or new member to come along hear what Devonport Heritage has achieved over the last year. To join our committee just come along and raise your hand when we call for nominations!
All regular committee meetings are also open to anyone who would like to come along participate or any resident who would like to raise an issue with us.
Please refer to the AGM page for last year's minutes and the
Apologies to devonport.heritage@gmail.com
The committee meets monthly usually on a Monday evening, from February to November.
