Cornerstone Group’s Waimauku plans on track

10 May 2007

Cornerstone Group’s Waimauku plans on track
despite challenging resource consent process

Cornerstone Group’s plan to create a themed railway station café and function centre in the Rodney district is on track - despite a roadblock during submission presentations.

The property development company is seeking resource consents from the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) and Rodney District Council (RDC) to develop a small section of its 460ha property at 1080 State Highway 16, Waimauku.

Submission presentations were completed this week. During the process, Waimauku resident Barry Hart refused to present his case and left the hearing to apply for the high court injunction, putting the consent proceedings on hold.

Cornerstone Group founder Rick Martin said the company joined the defendants - ARC and Rodney - to mediate a compromise allowing submitters additional time to prepare evidence.

"Cornerstone Group followed the proper process to the letter with regard to our resource consent application. We sympathise with the commission and particularly ARC chairperson Gwen Bull who worked hard to keep the hearing focused on the issue at hand.”

He said regardless of the outcome, Cornerstone’s wider vision for the area would continue.

The resource consents will allow the establishment and operation of a restaurant / café and function centre within a purpose built structure to be located alongside the north Auckland railway line. The “railway station”, expected to be a draw card for visitors to the region, will enable people to travel to and from the facility by chartered train.

Consent is sought from RDC together with consents from ARC relating to earthworks, storm water discharges and management, diversion of surface water and wastewater treatment and disposal.

The ARC and RDC will now hear re-submissions on the resource consent and Cornerstone’s right of reply and then begin deliberation.

ENDS

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