The proposed film studio at Te Awanga – Parkhill Studios – is now facing two appeals in the Environment Court after receiving consent just ahead of Christmas last year.
A Hastings District Council spokesperson said that, as the consent authority, it had been notified of two appeals by the Environment Court. The last day for appeals was February 1.
One appeal was filed by Andrew Caseley, who was a submitter opposed to the original application. On January 31 he sought an appeal asking for clarification or amendment to a number of the conditions that were imposed on the resource consent decision. It is unknown which ones.
A second appeal was filed on February 1, by the applicants themselves – Number 8. Studios. This appeal seeks to delete the condition limiting the hours of operation of the film studios.
It is unknown when a decision on the appeals will be made by the Environment Court.
The proposed studios would establish a new film industry in Hawke’s Bay and provide employment for locals, and 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, and the impact on amenity value on what is still more or less a rural residential area with a few businesses.
The consent was granted by independent hearings commissioner Kit Littlejohn, but came with a number of conditions, including limiting operating hours to between 6am and 6pm, with any filming outside of these hours requiring additional consent – for example night filming.
Another condition addressed reverse sensitivity to activities taking place on the neighbouring forestry block through the provision of a special undertaking by No. 8 studios to guarantee they will take no action to restrict forestry operations.
However, the conditions most likely being appealed by Caseley involve a host of upgrades to the road and traffic infrastructure near the site, proposed by the submitters to improve safety, traffic and noise concerns. These included a path for cyclists and pedestrians adjacent to the upgraded roadway and were considered sufficient by Littlejohn to mitigate safety and traffic concerns.
Ahead of the consent, additional detail was provided by the Number 8. Studios about plans to improve safety at the intersection of East Road and Parkhill Road. And then additional road testing was undertaken with heavy vehicles at the site, which comprehensively addressed the outstanding issues, Commissioner Littlejohn said in his consent determination.
He ultimately concluded that the intersection could be improved – with the tracking of heavy vehicles, speed management of left turning vehicles exiting Parkhill Road and widening the inside curve on the right turn bay to accommodate large vehicles – to operate safely pending a road safety audit.
The commissioner was also satisfied that the traffic related noise effects could be managed appropriately by the conditions of consent.
In his submission to the original consent application, Andrew Caseley objected to the development of the studios in a rural setting based on the Regional District Plan and Regional Policy Statement. He had hoped a new location could be identified in industrial or commercial zones. He expressed wide-ranging concerns about the impact on amenity value, traffic safety and reverse sensitivity with the forestry block.
Littlejohn ultimately decided that to deny the development on the basis of amenity value would be inappropriate and that the expectations of locals were unrealistic in light of HDCs aspirations for continued diversification of rural land to support the local economy.
Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
Good on Mr Littlejohn!
Tis little wonder “venturing business owners” ( using risking their own dosh! Feel the jitters at the prospect of endless, skyrocketing legal fees?
Whilst the concerns of ratepayers & locals should and must be voiced & heard in their entirety, let’s be rational when our regional economy, profile & local employment prospects are involved.
Conditions applied to mitigate the concerns must be monitored & upheld so No 8 can proceed to “put Hawkes Bay on the map” in a global context. Gosh, we are right on the Eastern edge of the Eastern edge of this Planet, we need every flag flying we can get.
Common sense must prevail as this is an opportunity to show case the region to the world.