Developing Wellington's waterfront important

A Wellington City Councillor says not developing the waterfront would cause more harm than good.

The Environment Court has ruled against a council district plan change that would have allowed developers to build up to 30 metres in height on prime waterfront land without any public consultation.

Instead, any development in the North Kumototo area will now automatically be subject to public input.

Councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer says it's easy to see the need to safeguard public open space, however developing the waterfront is equally important.

"The whole idea of course of the waterfront development is that we are able to have developments that pay for all the public space and all the fantastic things that we've got down there already."

Mr Ahipene-Mercer says he's confident this ruling won't prevent future development.

Meanwhile a state of the art building proposed for Wellington's waterfront is no longer feasible thanks to a ruling from the Environment Court.

Newcrest Group had drawn up plans to build a six-storey office block on north Kumutoto wharf.

However the proposal was on hold awaiting an Environment Court decision relating to development in the area.

That ruling is now out and changes the resource consent process, meaning all development must be subject to public consultation and height restrictions.

Director of Leasing for Colliers International Jim Pinson says that makes the project no longer workable.

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