Porirua harbour Photo: kayjayimages/123RF
A controversial housing development north of Wellington has been granted resource consent.
The Plimmerton Farm project in Porirua seeks to build 2400 new homes in addition to a commercial area, retirement village, and school.
It has been widely criticised by environmental groups amid concerns about runoff into the wetland, known as Taupō Swamp.
The project - earmarked by the Labour government for fast-track consenting under the Covid-19 Recovery legislation - received the green light to be included in the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill last month.
At the time Porirua mayor Anita Baker, a longtime advocate for the the project, said the region was in desperate need of more homes, and was confident the checks and balances to protect the wetland would be sufficient.
She has previously stated that the developers - one of whom has a past conviction for environmental damage - would be watched very closely.
The Environmental Protection Authority said the independent panel approved the resource consent 169 working days after the application was lodged by developers Malcolm Gillies and Kevin Melville.
It was approved under the Covid-19 legislation and is subject to conditions, including the remediation and creation of a wetland.
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