devonportflagstaff.co.nz
April 25, 2025
Donald Coleman clocks up 100 games for NSRC... p5
Rust-free: most waterfront trees doing well... p9
Interview: New BPS principal Peter Thorne... p18-19
Ruling stokes fears for heritage housing
Protections safeguarding Devonport’s historic houses are likely to be increasingly challenged following a court decision allowing an Epsom bungalow to be demolished. The application to demolish a dilapidated 1920s California bungalow at 22 Crescent Rd was approved by the Environment Court, with the decision challenged in the High
Court by Auckland’s Character Coalition. The High Court upheld the Environment Court ruling this month. It said a precedent had not been created. The bungalow was in a special character area but each case needed to be judged on its merits. Devonport Heritage chair Margot McRae said the organisation was “shocked and
disappointed about the decision to allow demolition of a high-quality heritage bungalow” in Epsom. “It feels like heritage is under attack from every quarter at present. I am hopeful this won’t open the doors for applications to demolish heritage houses here. To page 2
Young helper knows the drill
Doing her bit... Seven-year-old Alice Pipa will be back for a third year among the volunteers at Devonport’s Anzac commemorations. Story, page 4.