13 Aug 2015

Group to keep fighting Mangere housing

6:18 pm on 13 August 2015

A group opposing a Special Housing Area development in South Auckland says it will continue to push the council to can the project.

Part of a housing development in the Tamaki area in Auckland.

Part of a housing development in the Tamaki area in Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Fletcher Residential is proposing to build up to 480 houses on 33 hectares next to the Otuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve in Mangere.

Manukau councillor Arthur Anae said he supported a motion put forward by Cathy Casey to revoke the development.

He said the matter needed to be brought back and discussed again, and any "kinks" had to be ironed out.

"But there are difficult problems ... because the land is now owned by Fletchers, and they have got approval and they've done a lot of work around it.

"So it's not an easy situation."

Mr Anae said the community group Save Our Unique Landscape had lobbied to have the project canned on the grounds of preserving the site's history and cultural significance.

A member of the group, Qiane Matata-Sipu, said Cathy Casey's motion was a great first step.

Ms Matata-Sipu said the group had had huge support from the community, and members hoped the project would be halted, and a different site chosen for the development.

The matter will be discussed at the next full council meeting at the end of this month.

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