Neighbours raise concerns over affordable housing plan for Hope site

Some neighbours have raised concerns about a proposed affordable housing development earmarked for a rural site along Main Rd Hope, about 17km south of Nelson.

Landowners Jason and Ange Mudgway have been trying to get approval since early 2019 for the proposed residential subdivision on 3.67ha of Rural 1 land on the outskirts of Richmond.

The couple tried to get approval as a Special Housing Area but it was knocked back over timing. They reapplied last year under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 to develop more than 40 residential allotments and the associated infrastructure in a subdivision called The Vines. Environment Minister David Parker in November agreed to refer the project to an expert consenting panel.

A formal application for The Vines was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on March 5. The EPA provides advice and administrative support for expert consenting panels appointed under act.

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Four neighbouring residents of the proposed development approached Stuff with concerns including a lack of communication about project, and – if it should be approved – the loss of productive land, a change in character of the area, increased traffic, and concern about stormwater from the development.

One resident, Garry​ Higgins, agreed to be named. The other three wanted their names withheld.

“We bought out here because it’s tranquil and close to amenities at the same time,” Higgins said.

The site earmarked for development was planted in grapes. If the vines were removed and replaced with dozens of houses, the character of the area would change, Higgins said.

He queried how such as development would fit with the Government’s plans to protect the country’s best soils via a National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land.

Higgins and the other neighbours also have concerns about the stormwater from the development and an increase in traffic.

“White Rd can’t handle another 46 houses,” one resident said. “A subdivision with a few houses – six normal, nice houses – but 46 is excessive.”

Another neighbouring resident said she had concerns about arable land being “sucked under the concrete of houses”.

All four residents said they were concerned not to have received information directly about the proposal.

“He never spoke to us,” one said.

Jason Mudgway on Friday said he believed the information in the media to date about the proposal “would be enough” for now. Neighbouring residents would get the chance to express their views via the EPA process.

Specialist designers had produced reports on traffic and stormwater, and the number of proposed sections for sale had been reduced to 44 to accommodate a stormwater system, he said.

The site was not large enough to be productive. “We have a high-yield crop, and we make nothing.”

It had also been earmarked for development. “Growth is coming out here,” Mudgway said.

An EPA spokesman this week said landowners and occupiers adjacent to the proposed development would be invited to provide comments.

The formal application was being reviewed to ensure all the necessary information had been provided.

“Once that review process is complete, nominations for an expert consenting panel will be sought from the Tasman District Council and local iwi authorities.”

The fast-track panel convenor, Judge Laurie Newhook, would then select an expert consenting panel to decide on the application. That panel would be headed by a current or former Environment Court judge, or an experienced resource management lawyer, the EPA spokesman said.

Once the expert consenting panel had been selected, the “adjacent landowners and occupiers of the proposed development will be invited to provide comments”.

“After the comments period ends, the legislation requires the expert consenting panel to make a decision within 25 working days.”

The EPA spokesman said that so far, three projects had been approved under the fast-track legislation, and another three were under consideration by expert consenting panels. The Vines subdivision was the seventh application formally lodged for consideration by an expert consenting panel.