Maintaining that unique Korokoro feel
By Jamie Melbourne-Hayward
Warding off unsightly development in Korokoro. The feedback period has closed for the Hutt City Council's discussion document for the District Plan for Petone. The Korokoro Environment Group (KEG) has made a submission asking for the area to be considered for labelling as a character overlay zone. KEG spokesperson Ruth Mansell says?the Hill Residential zoning for Korokoro should be retained until such time as new and better planning strategies are in place. She says it?s important the ?unique? area maintains its character overlay to protect the suburbs natural setting. ?It?s a unique area, not necessarily because of any historic reasons but in the unique way it has been developed. ?There was not any major cut and fill when it was developed, and each section was developed one at a time,? she says. This type of development has leant to the suburb fitting into the natural contours of the land with winding roads and individual houses on different levels. Mrs Mansell says the benefits of this type of development are diverse, and locals are able ?to grow trees and you are not blocking others views?. The house growth in Korokoro did not conform to the 60s model of cut and fill, and as such has seen ?no massive changes to the landscape?. KEG?s submission asks that any proposed developments blend into the natural ambience by ?allowing some places built closely together and having a green area kept?. KEG prefers creative development that would?allow for some flexibility of housing types, such as cluster housing that could specify an average section size for an area, providing for several homes to be built close together around a common green space for trees, a park and a community garden. ?It looks like the council is open to consider that,? says Mrs Mansell. Around four years ago there were some ?bad developments? in Korokoro that flattened out hills and the ?district plan change at the time couldn?t stop it,? she says.
