Published as Issue No. 135
September 1, 2015
Community singing: Miranda of Hornsey Rd, inspired by a great experience at the Wellington community choirs event at the weekend, advises there are already a few people interested in becoming part of a local singing group in the community hall but they are in need of a director. If you feel you could lead the group or you just want to sing please contact Miranda.
Fundraising at the Pines: On Sunday, 9 August Friends of Houghton Valley (FoHV) held a fun event at the Pines with more than 140 people enjoying afternoon tea and a variety of music and dance performances. Coral of Houghton Bay Rd says FoHV are fund-raising to pay for a judicial review of Wellington City Council’s (WCC) decision to grant a non-notified resource consent for a subdivision of 13 houses on 5000m2 at 215 Houghton Bay Rd on the boundary of the Te Raekaihau Reserve.
“The subdivision plans show that the site, which is clearly visible when travelling around the coast from the West, will be used by 69 people in double storied, three and four bedroom houses. Before consenting this resource consent application WCC had put it ‘on hold’ for a year and, even after receiving much public interest in it, chose to ignore the community’s preference to have it notified. We are very disappointed that this application was not publicly notified.
There is no other area in Houghton Valley, or on the South Coast, where this kind of intensive housing has been built. Wellington’s South Coast is acknowledged in Wellington’s Regional Policy statement as having an effect on the wider character of the region. Aesthetic values of the coastal character include its memorability and naturalness. The density of the proposed housing on this site, which is not a ‘growth zone’, will unequivocally change the environment and character of the South Coast.”
Norman and contributors