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Snub for community feelings By BARBARA WEIL Wednesday, 04 October 2006 • Tamaki and Districts Times THOSE against a district plan change that will allow medium density housing development in Glen Innes and neighbouring suburbs are outraged Auckland City councillors have ignored the mountain of opposition. At its meeting on Thursday, the council approved Plan Change 61, which permits Zones 8 and 8a (described as ‘medium intensity housing). More than 600 submissions were received with about 400 opposing Zone 8. A flyer authorised by Panmure-based community radio station Mountainside FM says the plan change ‘flies in the face of community- based decision making. “It is Regional Growth Strategy being bulldozed through the system in spite of wide community opposition,” the document states. Councillors who approved the change are adamant benefits will outweigh any disadvantages. Cr Leila Boyle, who lives in Tamaki, says despite the submissions against the plan change, the process ‘is not a numbers game.’ “We had to assess what the plan change seeks to do and if the arguments for it stand up to scrutiny.” Already infrastructure is under pressure in Glen Innes with plans under consideration to increase commuter parking without impacting on local businesses. Ms Boyle says zoning changes are needed because so many people choose to live in Auckland. “Land is expensive, so we have to offer a range of housing types from townhouses to apartments and in between. Glen Innes is ideally placed with access to public transport.” Citizens and Ratepayers’ councillor Toni Millar is “incensed at the gerrymandering over the issue”. “The plan change went through with a few cosmetic amendments and a group of mainly left wing councillors have got their way.” Adding to the equation there have been ward boundary changes affecting Hobson and Eastern Bays. “This could mean parts of St Johns may be subject to Zone 8. This really goes against all the efforts to save St John’s Bush,” says Ms Millar. “There will be major traffic problems and the possibility of slums in the future. I also understand the multi-storey apartments aimed at housing the elderly will not have lifts. These are huge concerns that will inevitably lead to social changes of the kind we don’t want.” Housing Lobby spokesperson Sue Henry is “outraged and distraught” at the decision. “How can council vote that way when so many people opposed the plan change? This looks like collusion between council and property developers. “The only recourse we have is to appeal to the Environment Court and that is likely to be too costly. We will be actively campaigning to get rid of those who voted for this monstrous plan.” Cr Bruce Hucker approves the plan change. “This is the way to implement the consultation document Glen Innes for the Future. The Tamaki Edge area expects 30,000 more people by 2016 — that’s 10,000 new jobs, $3 billion in public and private investment and $1 billion added to Domestic Gross Product. “We listened carefully to the submitters, retained some Residential 5 and 6 zones to ensure there were plenty of options. The more intensive development around Glen Innes will add to the economic viability and vibrancy of the town centre.” Dr Hucker said it was beyond commissioners’ brief to consider current state housing projects in the area. Cr Richard Northey pointed to Auckland’s rapid growth. “People have to live somewhere and it is undesirable that more housing should be built on agricultural land on the outskirts of the region. It’s been a hard decision but I believe people will realise we did a good job.” |