Tubbs Farm / Rangitane River Park

Kia ora

As reported previously, Vision Kerikeri, Friends of Rangitane Stream and Carbon Neutral NZ Trust supported the Council’s opposition to a large (non-complying) urban style housing development on the remaining paddocks of Tubbs Farm along Kapiro Road and Redcliffs Road, now called “Rangitane River Park” (further details: https://www.visionkerikeri.org.nz/post/124-lot-subdivision-at-tubbs-farm-wrong-development-wrong-location).

Following a series of official Hearings, an Environment Court decision has now allowed 115 additional sections to be developed on the site.  Surprisingly, the Environment Court did not consider key negative impacts identified by experts.  For example, the development will create further urban sprawl in a rural area that lacks relevant infrastructure.  The development will be entirely car-dependent.  It will take more than 75 minutes to walk to the CBD Post office or Kerikeri High School, and cycling on Landing Road is not a safe option for children. The developer’s traffic assessments indicated the development will add 1700 vehicles per day on Kerikeri roads, mainly on Landing Road (550 vehicles per day from existing stages, plus 1150 from the new stages) – and the extra traffic is already having negative effects on residents of Landing Road.  The development will not create any affordable housing.

On a more positive note, the developer will create several ecological reserves to help protect the wetlands, kiwi burrows, native lizards and other special wildlife on the site.  A loop walking path for residents will be created through the reserve. Large parts of the reserve will be replanted with native trees by the developer and maintained for 5 years before being vested in the Council.  Earthworks will not be allowed in the reserve area, but extensive earthworks are being carried out to create the residential sections and roads.  Soil contaminated with lead and arsenic will be removed from the former gun club.

Consent conditions will require native plants to ‘predominate’ in future residential sections.  Fencing and stormwater drains must avoid hazards to kiwi, and support the safe movement of kiwi.  Street lighting and outdoor lighting will be energy-saving LEDs with warm-coloured light that has less impact on kiwi and other nocturnal wildlife. The developer agreed to consider ‘water sensitive’ methods when drawing up detailed designs for stormwater management.

The developer will set up a Community Engagement Group (CEG) to review the developer’s plans for predator control, replanting and ecological restoration, weed management and native wildlife protection in the future reserve areas.  Groups invited to participate include Vision Kerikeri, Friends of Rangitane Stream, Ngāti Hao (Ngāti Hao is replanting and restoring a very large ecological area adjacent to Tubbs Farm), Ngāti Rēhia, Kerikeri Peninsula Conservation Charitable Trust and the Council.

While the approval of urban style development in this location is regrettable, Vision Kerikeri is proud to have contributed technical information that helped to improve several aspects of the consent conditions, where possible.

Nga mihi

Rolf Mueller-Glodde

- Acting Chair -