Silverstream Spur Decision Appealed
- NZ Empowered
- Nov 20, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 18
Thanks to Jason Durry for giving this the once over, we have tried to represent this as accurately as possible. Will update as more info is available.
Click on the blue underlined words to go to the links.
Previous Posts:
Guildford's Silverstream Development Gallops On | Silverstream Spur | Gillies has moved to Plimmerton Farm to Develop
Update - 20th Dec 2024
Good news environment court cut of dates for submissions closes 20 Jan 2025 now.
Anyone who feels they are impacted more than the general public can submit not just past submitters.
We have been told if you think the development will impact you you can submit...
We believe there are 2 ways this can be done :
1 - Send your submissions or views on how this will affect you/environment maybe send through to the Forest and Bird who believe are taking this on with their Lawyers and maybe able to collate your views and help them. Not sure how this is done but sure Forest and Bird would assist with this.
2 - Become a party to proceedings and submit to the Environment Court .
We think this is the form required to part of the proceedings https://www.environmentcourt.govt.nz/assets/ENVC-33-notice-wish-to-be-party-to-prceedings.docx
You need to add the reference number which is either ENV-2024-WLG-000056 or ENV-2024-WLG-56 - (Guildford Timber Company vs Upper Hutt City Council). This cost around $110...
We are not absolutely sure as never been through the process, if anyone else can shed further light on this. We also hear people are raising funds for this we are unsure how to donate to this but again maybe someone on this page can.
Update 20th Nov 2024
We have found out today (20th November 2024) that there has been an appeal lodged against the decision made by Upper Hutt City Council as part of Plan Change 49. This specifically refers to the Silverstream Spur not the development behind St Pats College.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported the endeavour to save the Silverstream Spur and ask for your support for fighting this once again. As Guildford Timber Company have decided to appeal the decisions that both Upper Hutt City Council, the Commissioners Recommendations and the thousands in the community who have expressed concern. This is a drain on the city as it costs the council lawyers and costs.
From what we understand the council decision adopted the commissioners findings including the provision of a significant natural area and submitters had 30 working days to appeal the decision, which Guildford Timber Company have done today, the final day of the 30 days.
This means that the Plan Change now heads to the Environment Court. This is where it will be decided if Guildford Timber Companies appeal, seeking to have the commissioners recommendations overturned and the Plan Change put in place as originally notified (with special “bespoke” provisions for a road and infrastructure corridor) including any specific changes they seek, will be upheld.
(For those unfamiliar, this is Plan Change 49/PC49, another term which is linked with this is Plan Change 50/PC50 - PC49 is where Upper Hutt City Council agreed to keep the Spur an Open Space)
So far the plan change has cost rate payers $188,000 with an additional $23,000 spent on ensuring that the risk of appeal was reduced. Undoubtedly this amount will continue to balloon for Upper Hutt Council on legal expenses in the Environment Court.
An Upper Hutt Councillor has suggested, There’s the Plan Change 49v1 and the appeal process, and also the Fast Track Legislation in play.
Anyone wanting to make their voice heard on these could do so on all processes. For the fast track, you could write to the ministers responsible (Simeon Brown, Chris Bishop and Shane Jones) and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. There will not be a chance for public input now but there is nothing to stop anyone emailing the ministers their views.
If you wish to, maybe a few emails to Council, Mayor, the CEO and CC in all other Councillors supporting the decision they made to have the Spur as an Open Space.
Also emails/messages to the Environment Court maybe the course of action.
Remember when contacting regarding this matter that Upper Hutt and Hutt City Councils have both had issue with this development.
We hope to update with more information as it becomes available.
Click the email envelope to email all Upper Hutt Council Members
Click the email envelope to email the Ministers and Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
Click the email envelope to email the Environment Court.
Click the email envelope to email all Hutt City Council Members
Let’s speak up and ask questions.
Let’s show those fighting this we are behind them.
Let's back the council's decision and show our support.
Email messages of support as after many many years of fighting to save this spur its another kick in the teeth. We are sure they will appreciate any support.
Save our Hills
Forest and Bird Upper Hutt.
Also the Hutt City Council have voiced their opposition to the development due to the local landfill and the commissioner's report were against it also.
The people working to save this Spur have been doing so for years and have achieved a lot of this time. We await more information once they are able to process what this means and the best path forward to protect the decision which has been made to keep the Silverstream Spur an Open Space and not available for roading.
Silverstream Spur Information & History
In Principle and Code of Conduct
There was talk of definition of "In Principle" and Conflict of Interest matters around how the council were dealing with the Silverstream Spur and the Silverstream Development. We have had clarification from Geoff Swainson the CEO of UHCC on the definitions.. Here is the email received about the code of conduct and "In Principle". Here is the link to the Code of Conduct
Links to those fighting to preserve the Silverstream Spur
Save our Hills - https://www.facebook.com/p/Save-Our-Hills-100064907221933/
Silverstream Railway - https://www.silverstreamrailway.org.nz/silverstream-spur/
Public Education Meeting 21st June 2024
On the 21st June there was a public meeting held at the Silverstream School to help educate and inform the public.
A PDF version of the presentation from the meeting.
You have to ask, is that to get the Silverstream Development of Guildford's off the ground and meet our required home builds of around 280 homes per year? Especially now that Kāinga Ora have put a stop to a lot of their developments in Upper Hutt.
Video of the Public Education Evening (21st June 2024)
With the Government requiring in it's legislation to have around 280 homes built every year in Upper Hutt, and the UHCC appear to have it's hands tied.
Maybe the Mayor needs to be encouraged and backed to assure the decision and his Council to keep this as an open space as it was always intended to be. The Government Housing Policy is making this hard with Kāinga Ora pulling out of 500 plus houses in Upper Hutt. The government says its not financial viable...Developers also have used this term (Trentham Race Course Development). Why are Councils not able to use this as we as rates payers, renters, retailers, Commercial and Community organisations will ultimately pay the price.
We also say not Financial Viable.....Have the government forgotten The Westminster Chain of Accountability.
Why should our environment and the decisions of two Councils and recommendations from a commissioners report and public submissions be penalised.
We would encourage the Upper Hutt City Council to stick with their original decision and keep the Silverstream Spur as an Open Space with no roading or development as it has been decided. Communities within Wellington and afar show that this Fast Track Bill is not fair and equable, and pressures communities and Councils into developments which they do not agree with.
Hon Chris Bishop is posting that the government is Fast Tracking 55,000 new homes across NZ. You would have to ask, at what cost?
Another Development in Wellington with similar concerns - Plimmerton Farm
You will notice this is Gillies and Melville and it is similar to the Racecourse development which they pulled out of earlier in the year, bleating that it is not economically viable.
Many on Facebook have commented about similar issues around these development. Traffic, Flooding, Sediment, Local Services etc etc
For example :
Many of us submitted against Plimmerton Farm fast tracking which was granted by the EPA last month. Large volumes of sediment will enter Taupō Stream, Taupō swamp and Te Awarua o Porirua.
All my life those rolling hills 🙁 turning into a ugly mega suburb . and while people will cry we need houses ,bare in mind that the overarching plan is to pump 80,000 more people into Wellington alone over next 15 or so years . Fast track will mean awful crap work that is being pumped out already . UGH
