Elected Members approved the revocation of a road reserve at 10 Barnard Road to support the development of Summerset Retirement Village on the adjacent property at the Community and District Development Committee meeting on 13 March 2024.

Earlier this year Barnard Road residents were asked for feedback on a proposal to sell the road reserve at 10 Barnard Road to enable its use as an alternative vehicle access into the property at 171 Fairy Springs Road. Council received 12 submissions during the consultation period, most supporting the decision.

The Councillors approved the decision to revoke the status of the land and sell it to Summerset. Funding received from the sale is required, under the Reserves Act 1977, to be reinvested in local open spaces or recreation areas.

Background

Summerset Retirement Villages has purchased the land at 171 Fairy Springs Road, north of Barnard Road, with the intention of developing a new 270-unit retirement village. To support their development, Summerset has requested the use of the road reserve at 10 Barnard Road to provide access for emergency vehicles and an alternative exit for vehicles intending to travel north towards Ngongotahā.

The land at 10 Barnard Road was vested in Council in 1957 as part of a larger subdivision, for the specific purpose of providing vehicle access to land to the north. The land is classified as road reserve under the Reserves Act 1977, and has been used for several years by the neighbouring motel for a playground and parking area.

Council proposed to sell it to Summerset to enable its use as an alternative vehicle access. Before it can be sold, the road reserve status of the land has to be revoked through a process under the Reserves Act 1977.

If successful, the alternative access will be gated and would mainly be used for emergency services and deliveries. Residents and visitors to the retirement village will be expected to use the main entrance off State Highway 5/Fairy Springs Road.

The Minister of Conservation would then make the final decision on whether or not the road reserve status should be revoked.