Residents in the Auckland suburb of Devonport gathered to protest an eight-storey building plan submitted for the Government’s fast-track approval, which they argue will block picturesque views and overshadow heritage buildings. The proposal includes apartments, a hotel, and retail spaces built above existing heritage structures, prompting community backlash over scale and local voice.
Devonport Protests Over Proposed Eight-Storey Fast-Track Development
Community members in Devonport released red helium balloons to visualize the scale of the proposed 37-meter building from the ground. Margot McRae of the Devonport Heritage group stated that the approval would fundamentally change the suburb. According to McRae, the development will screen Takarunga Mount Victoria and dwarf nearby heritage buildings. While the group is not opposed to all development, McRae said they want to stick to current council height restrictions of three-to-four storeys. Protesters displayed a sign reading ‘Stop Fast Track For Devonport’ during Sunday’s demonstration.
Developer Peninsula Capital’s Mark Hiddleston acknowledged that height was always going to be a concern for the community. Hiddleston stated that a team of experts spent a long time ensuring the proposal balances heritage, cultural, and economic needs. According to Hiddleston, the project aims to bring shop-fronts back to their former glory while making the town a desirable place to live, work, and visit in the 21st century.
Fast-Track Approval Act Scrutiny and Ministerial Response
McRae stated that the fast-track process allows developers a free reign, giving them a distinct advantage. In response, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop stated that suggestions communities have been cut out of the process or that developers have been given free reign are inaccurate. According to Bishop, fast-track differs from standard Resource Management Act (RMA) processes by supporting timely, coordinated decision-making.
Bishop explained that every project is assessed by an independent expert panel. This panel considers environmental effects, infrastructure, and the views of relevant iwi, local authorities, and certain other groups before issuing recommendations. Furthermore, Bishop noted that fast-track approval does not bypass necessary infrastructure requirements. Expert panels can require roads, water, wastewater, and other essential infrastructure to be in place before construction, occupation, or later stages proceed. Panels can also impose financial conditions or decline projects if adverse effects outweigh regional or national benefits. Bishop pointed to existing fast-track approvals for projects such as the Drury Metropolitan Centre, Homestead Bay in Queenstown, Mission Bay, and Milldale as examples where detailed infrastructure conditions were enforced before progression.
North Shore MP Simon Watts stated he could not comment on the Devonport proposal while it remains under consideration, though he agreed to meet with residents.
Wider Opposition Across Regional New Zealand
Devonport residents have united with other community groups and council members nationwide who share concerns regarding the fast-track process. In Waimauku, a proposal for over two thousand houses has raised alarm. Tatjana Ratzdorf of the Waimauku Community Association stated that the project is proposed in the middle of a flood plain with serious flooding issues, located outside the rural urban boundary on highly productive farmland and lacking adequate infrastructure.
Near Queenstown, a separate bid proposes developing a neighbouring community between Arrowtown and Franklin featuring 1210 houses and a commercial precinct. Hanna Pettit, a spokesperson for the Queenstown Smart Growth Initiative, expressed concern that the proposed community sits six kilometres outside the Queenstown Lake Council’s spatial plan, which designates land capable of accommodating growth. Pettit noted that residents would rely entirely on private vehicles, worsening regional traffic issues, and that reliance on private infrastructure risks eroding natural landscapes.
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