Housing

Mt Welcome Fast-Track Submission

• • Consultation, Housing, Information, RA, Road safety, Transport, Water Quality
Download the pdf here for our full submission.

Thank you for your invitation to submit on the Mt Welcome Pukerua Bay Fast-track Application. Pukerua Bay Residents Association (PKBRA) has a substantive interest in the project, particularly given

  • the development’s size and proximity to our existing community, and
  • two new green fields housing developments are already in progress in the area: Pukerua Bay Limited Partnership (PBLP) off Muri Road in Pukerua Bay and Plimmerton Farm on the eastern side of SH59 from Plimmerton.

PKBRA believes there is no case to Fast-track the Mt Welcome development and requests the Expert Panel to decline the application at this time for these reasons:

  • The Mt Welcome Development Fast-track Application does not meet the purpose or intent of the Fast-track legislation. Specifically, this application does not show “significant regional or national benefits” as outlined in Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 purpose.
  • The National Policy Statement on Urban Development supports development in locations that have good access to existing services, public transport networks and infrastructure. In our opinion, the proposed development does not fit these criteria.
  • PKBRA supports the points made by Porirua Harbour and Catchments Trust/Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet (PHCT/GOPI) in the general section of their submission regarding the location and isolation of the proposed development, and of current population growth.
  • The Fast-track process means we could lose our opportunity to provide local input for a period of up to 15 years.

Download the full submission pdf

Muri Road Subdivision update – Stage 1 including Muri Road Upgrade

• • Housing •

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.  

Muri Road Development

• • Housing •

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.

AGM 2025 guest speaker – Simon Barber

• • AGM Minutes, Housing, Information, Meeting, RA • , ,
Simon Barber presenting at the Pukerua Bay residents Association AGM

Responding to requests from the wider Pukerua bay community, here are notes from the guest speaker portion of our latest AGM meeting.

Simon Barber, Pukerua Heights Residential Estate development manager for their current development off Muri Road.

Simon shared some slides of the Muri Road developments noting:

  • Silt retention ponds to collect runoff which will make room for the entrance once finished. 144 sites in 6 stages as the market dictates.
  • All the pine trees will be taken down.
  • Top of stage one – pine trees out, platform for first sites. SNA is fenced off to protect the trees there. Once upper area stabilised the proper access area will be put in.
  • Stage two the  old woolshed and pine trees will be removed.
  • Even though it’s hilly sections are benched out for the houses.
  • When trees come down we grind the stumps and mulch the slash then use the mulch to stabilise the site and allow vegetation to grow through.
  • Area above the site there is 50 hectares of native bush that PCC says has ecological significance. We want to bring development to the edge of it so people can access that block.

Questions from the floor:

(Community questions in bold, Simon’s answers in italic)

…

AGM 2025 guest speaker – Simon BarberRead More »

Muri Road Development: May update

• • Housing, Road safety • ,

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

Muri Road Development: April update

• • Housing, Road safety •

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.

Muri Road Development

• • Housing •

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.

Media comment on Fast Track Bill projects announcement

• • Consultation, Housing, RA

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 about to start on Muri Road housing development site

• • Announcements, Housing

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.

Safety

Please stay out of the site if you are used to using it for recreation. Forests are dangerous places during logging.