Earthworks/Civil works for Stage 1 (18 lots) of the subdivision are progressing well.
Earthworks have almost finished, with the subdivision entrance being built over the next 3-4 weeks.
This will include the final section of the Muri Road upgrade.
Roading, services and landscaping will follow.
The developers aim to have the road open to the community for stage 1 viewing in July.
The Residents Assn received the following from the developers of the Muri Rd Development who are concerned about the safety of some of the younger members of the community.
The owners, Pukerua Holdings, advise that youths recently were seen riding bikes through the pine forests within the Muri Rd Development.
This was potentially a very dangerous situation as they were in close proximity to tree logging operations and heavy machinery.
It appears they have been entering the site via neighbouring properties.
The land being developed for residential housing remains a construction site, whilst tree harvesting and earthworks operations continue.
Strictly NO access is permitted to the general public during this time.
Please remain vigilant to ensure the safety of your fellow neighbours, children, and the public.
Responding to requests from the wider Pukerua bay community, here are notes from the guest speaker portion of our latest AGM meeting.
Simon shared some slides of the Muri Road developments noting:
(Community questions in bold, Simon’s answers in italic)
…The following renditions have been provided by the Developer and are intended to give an indication of the type of residences that are proposed for the development.
Advice has come from Pukerua Holdings Ltd that a notice board at Muri Rd will shortly be erected by the Civil works contractor, Bryce O’Sullivan Contracting, as the new road entrance starts to open and civil works (drainage, roading etc) get underway.
These works will also include the upgrade of a section of Muri Rd between Sea Vista Drive and just beyond the new subdivision entrance (see below).
All affected residents will shortly be updated via letter of these road widening works.
This work is expected to start in August for a period of approx. 10 weeks.
There will naturally be some disruption for this short period, however, the developers believe this will ultimately lead to a much-improved outcome for all residents.
Muri Road Upgrade Scope of Works
For those wondering who Pukerua Holdings is have a look at https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429050538195, https://oversightsolutions.co.nz/profile/PUKERUA-HOLDINGS-LIMITED or
The developer’s earthworks contractor is about to commence clearing works on the roadside of Muri Road, starting from Monday 7th April and lasting 2-3 days. Traffic management will be operating so expect some delays. The location of these works are highlighted in red bordered area.
Following this the Contractor will commence earthworks to join into Muri Road at this location. Estimate this work to start in 2-4 weeks, subject to progress on-site. Progress updates will be provided.
Pukerua Bay Holdings Ltd which is undertaking the housing development off Muri Road has been in touch with PKBRA to give an update on the development. This is set out below.
As mentioned, we have now completed the 1st phase of our forestry harvest operation and ready to commence the stage 1 earthworks programme at Muri Rd.
Residents will shortly receive notice via their letterbox of the commencement of works on site from the Contractor, Bryce O’Sullivan Contracting (BOSCO).
The works will include opening the new road entrance for the subdivision at the midpoint between 34 and 50 Muri Road.
One additional lot will be created off the ROW at 34 Muri Road.
See below screenshot of the approximate scope of works, marked in red.
As with our forestry logging operation to date, we will continue to comply with all requirements as set out by Porirua City Council.
Our aim is to always keep any disruption to neighbouring residents to an absolute minimum, where possible.
The Residents Association was approached for comment on the Mt Welcome farm housing development being included in the 149 in the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Plimmerton Farm development is also included in the list of 149.
This is the response we sent to the journalist.
“We understand the need for extra housing and the Northern area of Porirua has been identified as a high-growth area. We generally support the approach being taken so far. Pukerua Bay residents, and the Residents Association have put a lot of work into ensuring that any development meets both the social needs of the community and protects the environment. We submitted to the council’s review of the district plan and there is a special district plan (Variation 1) that covers the area the Classic developers land is in. This includes a high degree of protection for freshwater in the area, particularly any water that flows into the Pauatahanui arm of the Porirua Harbour. It is also based on medium-density housing, which our RA supports. The environmental protection in the district plan is strongly supported by local residents.
“PCC had been working with Kāinga Ora on a potential Specified Development Project for the Northern Growth Area, which would have integrated all the housing developments between Pukerua Bay and Plimmerton, to ensure a joined up approach for roading, community facilities, public transport and other infrastructure. We would not support any developments being taken out of that holistic approach by this Fast Track process.
“Taking individual developments out of this integrated approach looks like a step backwards for the city if it allowed developers to ignore the work council, residents, developers and Kāinga Ora have already done and take a short-cut that can ignore the appropriate environmental protection. Any approvals under the fast track process should include the conditions and environmental protections that have already been negotiated by council and developers.”
Story on Stuff and The Post: https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350442299/porirua-and-kapiti-coast-developments-slated-fast-track
Logging of the pine plantation is about to start on part of the Muri Road housing development by Pukerua Holdings Limited.
The area is the part of the development that has been zoned as residential for many years and is the area closest to the existing houses in Muri Road. This is the Muri Road Stage 1 development. Porirua City Council has issued a resource consent to Pukerua Holdings for the work and their contractors will begin working there in the next couple of weeks.
It’s anticipated the operation will last about four months.
Here is a letter being distributed by Pukerua Holdings to neighbours over the next few days. Access to the site will be by a temporary entrance at the northwest corner of the site adjacent to 50 Mui Road (marked with an ‘X’ on the map). Logging trucks will be limited to three loaded trucks per day, and the trucks will have a pilot vehicle along Muri Road.
No trucks will run between 7:30am–9:00am and 3:30pm–4:30pm.
Please stay out of the site if you are used to using it for recreation. Forests are dangerous places during logging.
In a decision that’s likely to please Pukerua Bay residents, the latest version of the Porirua City Council Proposed District Plan has removed any possibility of high-density housing being built in Pukerua Bay.
Read the latest version of the Porirua City District Plan here.
Kāinga Ora had proposed that every part of Pukerua Bay within 800 metres of the train station should be rezoned as ‘high-density housing’, which would have allowed at least six-storey buildings taller than 22 metres. We were worried that the panel was going to agree to that proposal, or at least rezone all the land within 400 metres of the station, which was the original Kāinga Ora proposal.
PCC has accepted the latest version without change as the new proposed plan. In this, the whole of Pukerua Bay is now locked in as ‘medium density housing’, which is the default for the Wellington region. This allows for up to three houses of three storeys each (up to 12 metres high) to be built on all residential properties as a permitted activity (i.e. without needing a resource consent).
Many Pukerua Bay residents, including the Residents Association, sent in submissions opposing the high-density proposal, and the Association is very pleased to see there won’t be any here.
The current version can be appealed to the Environment Court, but unless the court makes any changes, the latest version will be the final operative plan everyone has to follow.
We were also very pleased to see that the panel added a new section on climate change and resilience to the introduction to the District Plan variation that covers the new developments off Muri Road and the Mount Welcome deer farm (i.e. Variation 1 Northern Growth Area).
We had pointed out that there was no mention of the need to both build to anticipate and prevent the impact of climate change in the new developments, and not do anything that would make it any worse. The panel added proposed wording directly from our submission:
The development will incorporate design principles that anticipate the effects of climate change, to mitigate its impacts, to avoid contributing to it and to increase community resilience.
