Advocating for our volcanic views

On August 10 a delegation from Devonport Heritage went along to the monthly hui of the Tūpuna Maunga of Tāmaki Makaurau Authority to voice our concerns over the direction the Independent Hearings Panel is taking on Volcanic View-shafts and Height Sensitive Areas. These two mechanisms have been in place since the 1970s and have largely meant that important views of the volcanic landscape of Auckland have been preserved. Alongside this is the extremely high cultural value of the maunga ( mountains) to tangata whenua, with Co-governance of 14 Auckland Maunga now in place. Read our presentation here Devonport Heritage presentation to hui

powerpoint for hui

Unitary plan- Pre 1944 Demolition and Historic Character Areas

Devonport Heritage is disturbed by the implications of an interim decision by the Unitary Plan independent Hearings Panel that special character or historic areas of Auckland may not be eligible for protection under the Unitary Plan.

This view has shocked Auckland's heritage groups who submitted for stronger protection for heritage buildings. 

Instead the Hearings Panel says the council planners have erred in changing the terminology for heritage areas from 'character' to 'historic heritage'.

The panel therefore says the overlays that were designed to protect heritage areas will not work unless there are cumbersome plan changes to all these areas. 

The panel says the Council and all it's legal advisors have used the incorrect section of the resource management act to achieve protection of historic suburbs. 

We are still trying to understand the implications of the panel's decision.

It may simply be a matter of wording change back to 'special character',  or it may require the full analysis and plan change that the panel have referred to if the council stand by their present stance. 

We feel we have been let down by council and the panel, and also by the weakening of the Resource Management Act that has watered down protection for heritage.

We will keep you posted.

media heat on volcanic cones issue

This week has seen two more articles covering the issue of views of Auckland's volcanic cones -click on the links to read:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11479095

http://issuu.com/devonportflagstaffnewspaper/docs/july10devonportflagstaff

This issue is by no means a new one. For a look at how the issue has developed over the last century, read some brief history

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Cwk78od_eCdWxkQjhpTTZyRWs/view?usp=sharing

contemporary cartoon July 1914.

Volcanic cones hearing news

Today Margot McRae, Deputy Chair and spokesperson,  made a strong case for retention of the Height Sensitive Area overlay and Volcanic Cones view shafts which for many years have stopped buildings blocking the public's views of Mt Victoria/Takarunga and North Head/Maungauika. We are opposed to the Devonport Business Association and Wallace Flats Ltd one of the property owners, who were represented by Lane Associates Cherie Lane who have submitted that the height limit should be increased to allow up to four stories or 12.5m.

read our full text here 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Cwk78od_eCQlNnWDROMXRSVWs/view?usp=sharing

Alfred Sharpe's 1877 painting Devonport and the Waitemata Harbour from the Domain (Ref: C-126-001 Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington http://natlib.govt.records/22825399

Vale Joe Deans

Devonport Heritage are sad to announce the death of another of our founding members, Dr Joe Deans. Joe was a stalwart supporter for over 20 years, having been on the committee in the early years, and later supporting Trish, our secretary and former Chair.  Our sincerest condolences to Trish and family. 

Claudia Page, Chair. 

Protect our views of Mt Victoria!

The hearings for the Volcanic View Shafts and Height Sensitive Areas which apply to Devonport are underway. You may have seen coverage of this in the latest Flagstaff. We will be presenting our opposing submission on Tuesday 30 June, stating why this is such an appalling proposition. We'd love to have your support at the hearing.  The hearings are held on Level 16 Tower One, 205 Queen Street, our slot is in the 3.45- 5.00 p.m session.

Harbour heroes

Urban Auckland, a group mainly of architects and urban designers , along with their supporters have won their High Court action to overturn consents for extending Bledisloe Wharf into the Waitemata Harbour. The court found that the consents for the extensions B2 and B3 should have been considered together in a bundle and that there were special circumstances which required the consents to be notified. Ports of Auckland have announced they will be stopping work, as they no longer have consent.

Our congratulations go to Urban Auckland - several of the group are Devonport residents including spokesperson Julie Stout-  and Stop Stealing our Harbour for their determination. Devonport Heritage have made a presentation on this issue as part of our Unitary Plan efforts. Thanks to our staunch members who packed the ferries and went along to the protests and the hearings.

Unitary plan Hearings- Pre 1944 Demolition and Historic Character Areas

This Friday, 12 June we will be speaking at the hearings for Historic Character Areas and the Pre-1944 no-demolition overlay. These are critical topics for the future of heritage character, - whether it be residential  or commercial areas. Devonport Heritage is hoping the commissioners will confirm the Victoria Road and surrounding commercial area as a Historic Character Business area, as was argued for in Plan Change 33. This plan change was adopted by Auckland Council in February 2014, but was too late to be included in the plan which had already been notified.

The pre-1944 overlay if adopted, will mean there is a  precautionary approach to demolition in some  areas , for example the parts of Devonport north of the golf course, isolated local business areas like corner shops etc. Work is underway on evaluations to check whether there are any buildings or groups of buildings  in these areas which might be scheduled either individually or as Historic Character Areas in future.  The main areas of Devonport, Cheltenham, Stanley Bay etc already have the Historic Character Area overlay which under North Shore City was the Residential 3 Built Heritage zone. We will be strongly advocating for strong rules to maintain protection for these areas.

Stop Stealing our Harbour website

The Stop Stealing our Harbour lobby group have upgraded their website - take a look at the interactive supporters map and add your dot. This graphic feature is really great.Then grab your credit card and make a donation to fund the campaign and e-mail the Mayor while you're there!

Port reclamation fight heats up

Add your weight to the fight against Ports of Auckland harbour reclamation. Come along on Wednesday 13 May to the Unitary Plan hearing on the Port Precinct. This is where the future of Auckland's harbour will be decided..

Devonport Heritage is making a verbal submission in the morning session that starts at 9.30 a.m.

Margot McRae will speak at about 10.30, along with Heart of the City's Greg McKeown. The Port company, Auckland Council and Ngati Whatua will speak in the afternoon.

So come along and make a difference! Show them that Devonport people care about our harbour.

When : Wednesday 13 May  starting at 9.30 a.m.( we expect to speak by 10.30 )

Where: Level 16, Tower One, 205 Queen Street ( Corner of Victoria St West)

our verbal submission 13 May 2015

 Visuals of the proposed reclamations:

Fort Takapuna Barracks restoration ready for action

The Auckland Council and the Devonport Takapuna Local Board have completed a project begun in 2014 restoring the two remaining army barracks buildings that date from the outbreak of WW2 in 1939. The Narrowneck site has a long military and naval history dating back to the Russian scare in the 1800s. The buildings are similar but not identical in layout with large open former dormitories and numerous smaller rooms which would have been for more senior ranks. Matthews and Matthews Architects were commissioned to write the conservation plan, which we have made some excerpts from. The renovations have seen all the exterior woodwork stripped and repainted, rotten parts including  some of the rimu flooring replaced, windows repaired andl owered internal ceiling linings removed to show the trusses as they would have been when the buildings were new. You can read more about it here

Fort Takapuna barracks interior

The restored barracks including the small meeting spaces should be available to book for community use soon via the Councils Venues for Hire page on their website.

Stop Stealing Our Harbour

Ports of Auckland is about to start adding 2 finger wharfs to Bledisloe Wharf, projecting nearly 100m into the Waitemata Harbour.

Construction starts April 2015. 

Resource consents for the wharf extensions were issued secretly and without any public notification or public consultation by Auckland Council. 

The extensions will completely block the Queens wharf view of the outer Waitamata Harbour and it will mean we spent $40 million to look at a wharf car park and some big bulk cargo ships. 

The Waitemata Harbour and its views are one of Auckland’s greatest assets, one we hold in trust for future generations. Ports of Auckland are stealing it bit by bit.

Don't let the Ports of Auckland give two fingers to the people!

stopstealingourharbour@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/StopStealingOurHarbour
Instagram: stopstealingourharbour

Auckland Council Proposed Unitary Plan

Devonport Heritage have made a submission to the Proposed Unitary Plan.

Hearings commenced at the end of 2014 and are continuing until mid-2016 when the independant hearing commissioners will present their recommendations to Auckland Council. Council will then meet to decide whether to adopt the commisioners recommendations. From time to time we will invite members to come along and support committee members during the hearings. Hearings take place at 205 Queen Street, which is on the corner with Victoria Street.

here's a summary of our submission   https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Cwk78od_eCMVRDeE83LVdnZ2c/view?usp=sharing