In a surprise pre-Christmas decision, independent hearings commissioner Kit Littlejohn has granted resource consent for the proposed film studio at Te Awanga, albeit with conditions.
It was previously thought a decision would not be announced until the new year.
The proposal, which would establish a new film industry in Hawke’s Bay and provide employment for locals, while popular with the general public, was opposed by a group of residents close to the site near Parkhill Road. The opposition was largely due to traffic noise and safety concerns.
The commissioner said in his decision statement that he had considered and reviewed in detail the proposed conditions set out by the submitters, No. 8 Studios, to address their concerns as well as the feedback provided on the Hastings District Council’s draft conditions during the hearing, and the evidence presented.
Conditions set out by No. 8 Studios to address concerns were adopted and agreed to by the commissioner subject to some slight amendments. The main conditions are as follows:
Operating hours will be strictly limited to between 6am and 6pm, with any filming outside of these hours requiring additional consent – for example night filming.
A host of upgrades to the road and traffic infrastructure near the site, proposed by the submitters, were considered sufficient to mitigate safety and traffic concerns, including a path for cyclists and pedestrians adjacent to the upgraded carriageway.
The intersections at East Road and Parkhill Road, however, required additional detail to be submitted by No. 8 Studios and a second expert witness conference was convened on 14 November to further address traffic safety concerns.
Opposition was maintained by some parties at the conference but additional road testing by the submitter post-hearing, with heavy vehicles at the site, comprehensively addressed the outstanding issues, Littlejohn said. He ultimately concluded that the intersection could be improved to operate safely pending a road safety audit.
The commissioner was also satisfied that the traffic related noise effects could be managed appropriately by conditions of consent.
“I consider that the noise from vehicles on Parkhill Road associated with the operation of the SPS will be acceptable and consistent with the character of the Rural Zone. This does not mean that the noise will not be noticeable. At times it will impact on the ‘quiet country lane’ amenity presently enjoyed by persons who have chosen to live on Parkhill Road.
“However, based on the provisions of the Hastings District Plan (HDP), particularly in relation to its aspirations for continued diversification of rural land use to support the local economy and to not control noise from vehicles on roads (or even the volume of traffic using roads), I find that the amenity expectations of local residents are unrealistic.”
Littlejohn said to deny otherwise acceptable development on the basis of amenity value would be inappropriate.
His decision includes an opportunity for review of the consent conditions after the submission of traffic noise monitoring data once the studio is in operation.
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the council had worked with the studio for a couple of years to identify a suitable site. It was exciting that there was no the possibility of a new industry coming to the region.
“In relation to this specific location, there has been a very thorough consenting process, and I have heard from some of the submitters that the process has allowed them to have their say. The independent commissioner has heard the residents’ concerns and granted approval for this consent application, with conditions that address the issues raised by submitters,” she said.
Gilly Lawrence chairman of the Eastern Screen Alliance commented, “This announcement is fantastic news for the wider Hawke’s Bay region. The exciting opportunity it represents will be far reaching into our communities creating pathways that would otherwise have seen youth and talents leaving our region. Each project that comes in will boost our local economy and provide many pathways for established and new businesses to work alongside us.”
The public will have 15 working days from January 11 to appeal the decision.
BayBuzz has approached No. 8 Studios for comment. This article will be updated in due course.
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Great news. At last a common sense and progressive decision by the Council as supported by the Commissioner!
This may be a watershed moment for the Bay as we start to look for how we can say ‘Yes’ rather than ‘No, no, no and by the way, No.
Exciting times for the Bay.