Delmore development gets green light despite opposition

Author: Katie Bradford,
Publish Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2026, 12:43pm

Plans for a 1200 home development near Ōrewa have been approved by the fast-track panel, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed.

The Delmore development has attracted heavy criticism from Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and councillors, as well as residents.

Vineway Limited plans to build 1217 homes, a commercial area, two neighbourhood parks, a network of protected ecological areas and construct a State Highway 1 interchange.

“The project is predicted to contribute $1.22 billion to the local economy over 25 years, as well as to ecological restoration through the management of approximately 44 hectares of indigenous vegetation and creation of new wetland environments,” Bishop said.

“The independent expert panel found the project will deliver significant regional benefits and has will granted the approvals sought, subject to a comprehensive set of conditions.”

Water and wastewater services has been a key issue of contention.

“Given constraints on existing public infrastructure, the applicant has proposed privately providing water supply and wastewater services through facilities designed to meet the development’s needs and allow for future expansion,” Bishops says.

“For the first stage of the development, wastewater will be treated and discharged on site, with treated wastewater transported off site during summer periods when necessary.

“Before the second stage of the development can proceed, the applicant will be required to obtain further approvals for a long-term wastewater solution, including onsite disposal, continued transport off site, or connection to the public network if capacity becomes available.

“The panel concluded the proposed wastewater treatment and disposal system is technically feasible, can meet the needs of future residents and community facilities and will appropriately manage offsite effects through the consent conditions.”

Neighbour Jon Mason was worried about the environmental impact of the development.

The 80-page approval document from the fast-track panel lays out myriad conditions for the development.

They include building an onsite wastewater treatment plant and stormwater discharge system, keeping indigenous vegetation and building other infrastructure such as retaining walls, communal rain gardens and water pumps.

New roads will be built by the developers to help manage traffic.

Water and wastewater will have to be provided privately, with a residents’ association to manage that.

In summer months, effluent may be trucked to Whangārei.

That’s because Watercare has made it clear it cannot connect any services to the site before 2033 and potentially until at least 2050.

Whangārei District Council confirmed to the Herald that it had preliminary discussions with the developers over the plan to transport waste up State Highway 1.

“Any further request would need to be considered on its merits and reflect the significant passage of time since those discussions,” the council said in a statement in response to the Herald’s questions.

It said the Whangārei Wastewater Treatment Plant had capacity to accept the wastewater flows that had been indicated. But any request would need to be assessed to ensure there would be no adverse impacts on plant operations, the environment or services for the community.

Katie Bradford is a Senior Correspondent at the Herald. She has been a broadcast journalist for over 20 years and was based in the press gallery for 10 years. She specialises in politics, business and Auckland issues.