Height of 5 storey apartments

This is a cross-section showing the 5 storey apartment blocks. The crimson square indicates the parts of the buildings that are over the 8 metre height restriction for a Residential 6A zone - the buildings are approximately twice the allowed height.

Hearing Postponed

We heard this week that the Public Hearing has been postponed. The likely date is now June/July.

Another recent development is that Qualcare's majority shareholder is now Macquarie Bank (based in Australia). As a result of this Qualcare will be merged with Eldercare, who also operated aged-care facilities in NZ. This transaction will have NO effect on the Resource Consent Application.

Main features of proposed development

Some of you may not be aware of the full size and scale of the proposed re-development, so I will outline the main features of the development below.

The plan is to demolish EVERYTHING on site, with the exception of six cottages in the southeast corner (MacPherson/Bonnie Brae corner).

The replacement buildings will be a number of 2,3,4,5 storey apartment blocks. These apartment blocks will house 240 apartments (one, two and three bedroom – the majority being 2 bedroom) and a 44 bed hospital. There will be a large underground car-park, and some above ground parking. It is expected that there will be approximately 450 people (residents & staff) on site once the development is completed - currently there are less than 170 people on site. A number of mature trees will be removed to make way for the apartments. The construction period is estimated to be anywhere between 5 and 10 years.

Executive Summary from Qualcare's application (PDF document)
Main architectural drawings (Qualcare website)

Before & After - Manapau St

Before & After - Bonnie Brae Rd

Public Meeting - 17 April

The planning consent hearing is imminent. This is our best chance to limit the size and shape of this development.

Find out how you might be affected and what you can do to protect your home and the Meadowbank community.

Please attend a meeting for Meadowbank residents, this Thursday, 17 April, 7:15pm at the Tahapa Hall, 22 Tahapa Crescent, Meadowbank

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Provisional Hearing date 5-9 May

We do not yet have confirmation of the hearing date, however we must assume that it will be commencing on Monday 5 May. As this is just 4 weeks away there is now a degree of urgency attached to this matter.

To obtain the best result for Meadowbank residents at the Hearing we believe it is necessary to obtain expert help and advice and therefore the preferred way forward for Action Meadowbank is to engage a planner to help us prepare the society’s presentation and to appear on our behalf at the Hearing.

If we are to follow this course of action it will cost approximately $10,000. We need your financial support to follow this through. Financial support can be in two ways:

1. A donation (in the form of a pledge at this stage)
2. Underwriting a portion of the cost to enable us to engage the planner while fundraising takes place. (As funds are raised from other sources, the extent to which any underwriting would be required will diminish. However, at this stage we do not have a clear idea of how successful fundraising initiatives will be.)

Please contact Mike Graham if you are able to help financially.