MEDIA RELEASE
10 October 2003
Seeking the community’s views
on St Heliers and Mt Eden village centres
In close consultation with the St Heliers and Mt Eden communities, Auckland City is to develop centre plans for each
village centre.
A centre plan is an individual planning approach for a specific business area which is developed in response to
community initiatives and concerns for that area.
Councillor Juliet Yates, chairperson of Auckland City Council’s City Development committee, considers the process to be
the perfect opportunity for St Heliers and Mt Eden residents to have their say and share their vision for the future of
the village centres.
“Establishing a centre plan for each area will help protect valued character and heritage, strengthen the
competitiveness of each village centre against new developments, and help maintain them as important focal points for
the local community and business.
“Once finalised, the centre plans will provide a consistent and cohesive approach as to the kind of building and
development that may take shape in St Heliers and Mt Eden in the future,” said Mrs Yates.
A centre plan may include guidelines for many aspects of the town centre such as: special planning controls, things that
make the town centre a pleasant environment, improvements to facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, and
street and landscaping improvements.
Character and heritage overlays will also be developed alongside the centre plans to preserve the valued features of the
centres.
The council has started a comprehensive community feedback programme. This is includes a random survey of residents in
each area, meetings with local business and community groups, and open days where council staff will be available to
provide further information and receive local comments.
“We would like to encourage residents to participate in this process,“ said Mrs Yates. “Local knowledge and feedback as
to what the community wants to see happen, or not happen, is crucial for helping us determine the parameters to be set
in the centre plan.”
The feedback from the community will help the council determine options for what planning rules may be included in the
centre plan. Council staff will draft several options and then publicise these options for further feedback and
consultation from residents in February/March 2004.
Once finalised the centre plans will be formally notified and incorporated into the Auckland City District Plan by way
of a plan change.
Open days for St Heliers: (note two different locations)
- Wednesday 29 October 11am – 2pm, St Heliers Community Library, St Heliers Bay Road
- Thursday 30 October 4pm – 7pm, St Heliers Church and Community Centre, 100 St Heliers Bay Rd
- Saturday 1 November 10.30am – 1.30pm, St Heliers Community Library
Open days for Mt Eden: (all at Methodist Church Lounge, Ngauruhoe Street, Mt Eden)
- Saturday 18 October 10am - 12pm
- Monday 20 October 11am - 1pm
- Tuesday 21 October 4pm - 6pm
Residents seeking further information may call (09) 379 2020 or visit the council’s website
www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/mtedencentreplan or www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/sthelierscentreplan,
where they may fill in an online feedback form.
Ends