The Julians Berry Farm site came another step closer to becoming a housing development on Wednesday with public hearings for changes to the Whakatāne District Plan to accommodate its future subdivision.

Hearings for Whakatāne District Council’s Plan Change 8 (Huna Road) were held at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Whakatāne council chambers.

The proposed changes seek to rezone about 15 hectares of land at 12 Huna Road, 30A Huna Road, and 234A State Highway 30, from Deferred Residential to Residential to allow for housing to be developed.

A panel of three independent commissioners chaired by Rob van Voorthuysen heard from seven submitters on the plan change’s second round of submissions.

Among those voicing their feedback on the plan change were landowners, Shaw Road subdivision developer Barney Gray, Dawn Parade 2012 Limited, a company owned by Martin van der Aa, which owns the property between the Shaw Road subdivision and Julians Berry Farm, berry farm owners Paul and Monica Julian, and the adjacent Paroa Rugby and Sports Club.

A representative of Ngāi Taiwhakaea hapū also spoke, along with representatives of the regional council and New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Key points raised included the urgency to unlock a large area for housing in the short and medium term until new development areas are identified within the Spatial Plan currently underway. The Spatial Plan is a large and complex project with many organisations involved and is not due to be completed until August 2025.

In addition, the panel heard concerns about infrastructure capacity, environmental impact, cultural significance, traffic and safety, and the need for housing affordability.

The council received 169 submissions during a first round of consultation earlier this year, 154 of which were largely identical. These cited concerns about a lack of consultation with Ngāi Taiwhakaea hapū, Huna Road residents and Māori land block owners, the effects of the rezoning on the rural community, increased traffic, housing density, potential effects of wastewater and stormwater discharge to Te Orini awa by groundwater influence and overland flow effects on neighbouring properties.

A council spokesperson said these submissions had been thoroughly reviewed, and some issues further investigated in collaboration with submitters. The recommendations on these submissions have since been compiled into a Planners Recommendation Report, which together with the feedback gained from Wednesday’s hearings, will be reviewed by the Hearings Panel before a decision is made early next year.

The proposed plan change stemmed from the Julians expressing interest in developing their property in 2021. However, council’s policy, planning and consents manager Nicholas Woodley said the change was focused on adjusting the existing regulatory framework to make the development process more accessible for landowners, rather than on the sale of specific properties.

“The rezoned land is expected to provide capacity for 150 to 175 house sites, including medium-density residential areas and papakāinga housing that will connect to council infrastructure such as water supply, wastewater, and roading.”

The change to the councils “rule book” encourages the development of a diverse range of housing. Additionally, the proposal includes a coordinated approach to the development of infrastructure, ensuring that necessary facilities and services accompany the growth in residential areas.

A copy of the Planners Recommendation Report is available on the council website at koreromai.whakatane.govt.nz/plan-change-8.