Members of the community are invited to attend a Howick Local Board meeting being held this Thursday, August 28, on housing intensification in east Auckland.
It’s on at 1pm at the board’s meeting room in the Pakuranga Library building and anyone who wants to share their views can email howicklocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to register their interest in doing so.
The purpose of the meeting is for the board to decide on its feedback to Auckland Council on the partial withdrawal of Proposed Plan Change 78 (PC78).
“We understand there’s significant public interest, especially in areas like Howick Village, Sandspit Road in Cockle Bay, and Pakūranga, where draft changes include potential intensification,” board chairperson Damian Light says.
“At this stage this is a draft change to Auckland’s planning rules, with feedback being sought from the council’s local boards and mana whenua.
“The Howick Local Board will provide its feedback to the council as part of this process.
“This will then be considered by the council’s policy and planning committee in late September, when it decides whether to publicly notify the plan change.
“If that happens, Aucklanders will be able to share their views through formal submissions.
“The board is offering residents an opportunity to speak at our public forum, for up to three minutes each.”
The proposed changes relate to Auckland’s Unitary Plan and could see major intensification in east Auckland.
The possible changes could impact parts of the Howick Local Board area, such as Bucklands Beach, Sandspit Road in Cockle Bay, and Meadowlands, and allow them to become zoned Mixed Housing Urban or Terraced Housing and Apartments zoning, allowing for six-, 10-, or 15-storey buildings to be constructed.
Howick Local Board deputy chair Bo Burns is raising concerns about the proposed changes and is asking questions about the partial withdrawal of Proposed Plan Change 78.
She asks why the “reset” of PC78 is “being pushed through without proper public consultation and why can’t we pause, consult, and co-develop a transparent plan shaped with community input?”
Burns asks where the controls are to stop 10-15 storey buildings in suburban areas; why intensify in areas far from frequent transport or walkable catchments and less visited retail areas; if the wastewater “qualifying matter” still applies in places like Cockle Bay; and how the rules will protect coastal suburbs from flooding, erosion, and sea-level rise, among other questions.
“Why should our community accept a ‘reset’ that reduces transparency, ignores hazards and infrastructure limits, and drives radical intensification where it doesn’t make sense?
“Please send feedback or register to speak before Thursday, August 28.
“Together, we can make sure growth is balanced with infrastructure, livability, and protecting the character of our suburbs.”
- Disclosure: Bo Burns is the owner of the Eastern Times.
