Coutts' mansion wall causing controversy

Sir Russell Coutts

Helen Schlichting, who owns a single-level holiday bach next to the multimillion-dollar luxury house that is under construction in Tindalls Bay, said the 2m high retaining wall would partly block her view of the ocean and the towering two-storey home would intrude on her privacy.

Ms Schlichting, of Browns Bay, said she had no problems with the international sailing icon but rather how Auckland Council had administered the resource consent process for his sprawling beachfront home.

She was unhappy at not being consulted, and with the consent stating that any effects on her and her property "have been disregarded".

"I do feel very disrespected by the attitude of the council resource consent officer ...

the neighbour, myself, she was disregarding is specifically named on the resource consent so they obviously realised that there would be a negative impact on us," she said.

"If I had been aware earlier of the extent and the height of the retaining wall and filling, there would have been the opportunity to discuss some details of their plans that impact my property."

A soil filling of 1000 cubic metres was being used where the 2m retaining wall was being constructed; adding a 1.1m balustrade would bring the total height to 3.1m.

"[It goes] right on our eastern boundary and right forward into our beachfront view area," she said.

The three-level 667sq m house, with five bedrooms, six bathrooms, three living areas, tennis and basketball courts and retaining wall, got resource consent last year.

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Coutts' mansion wall causing controversy