Locals encouraged to have their say on Unitary Plan

Orakei Local Board chair Desley Simpson is insistent that people in the Orakei ward should not miss the chance to have their say on the draft Auckland Unitary Plan.

The board is holding a series of public meetings to explain what might change in the Orakei ward as the plan drives Auckland’s future growth and shape.

And Ms Simpson has no doubt what the key issues are.

“The fact is, the Unitary Plan will be a clean slate. Past Environmental Court decisions will no longer apply and any previous plans for particular areas won’t count,” she says.

“We want to hear whether you actually want Auckland to grow by another million people. And are you really happy with the effect intensification might have on the current Orakei ward footprint?”

Ms Simpson also points to the fact that the draft Unitary Plan reflects the aims and aspirations of the 30-year Auckland Plan – a document that Orakei ward councillor Cameron Brewer refused to sign-off on.

Mr Brewer says “for two years the Mayor has been telling us that Aucklanders desperately want a compact city, and won’t mind high rises and intensification. Like the Orakei Local Board, I’m now more interested in listening to what our local communities actually want, not what politicians or planners think they need.”

“Yesterday the Mayor said ‘half of Aucklanders are under 40 years of age and they have all travelled. They know what an international city is like. We are just delivering the sort of urban and cityscape most young Aucklanders appreciate.’ Mr Brewer asks “even if this sweeping generalisation was true, which it’s not, what about everyone else? What about the needs and wants of middle-aged and older Aucklanders who the Mayor seems so disinterested in?”

Ms Simpson also has other concerns. “There are also some real question marks over the speed of the Unitary Plan process,” she says.

“We want to know if people share those concerns. It is critical that we hear the views of our communities as Aucklanders prepare for a period of unprecedented change to the way we live, work and play.”

Cr Brewer is supportive of the OLB and its engagement with the ward.

“Well done to the Orakei Local Board for organising these public meetings around the different communities in the ward. If people want to be better informed or already have a strong view, it’s really important they attend so we as elected representatives can hear those views first-hand and represent them as best we can,” says Mr Brewer.

The Orakei Local Board will help you find out more about the draft Unitary Plan and provide your feedback on the following dates.

Wednesday 3 April:

Mission Bay-Kohimarama: Presbyterian Church, 34 Kohimarama Rd, 6.30pm-8.30pm.

Monday 8 April:

St Heliers-Glendowie: Tamaki Ex-Services Association Hall, Cnr Turua St and Polygon Rd, St Heliers, 6.30pm-8.30pm.

Tuesday 9 April:

Remuera: St Lukes Community Centre, 130 Remuera Road 7pm-8.30pm.

Tuesday 16 April:

Ellerslie: Leicester Hall, 20 Findlay St, Ellerslie, 6.30pm-8pm.

Wednesday 24 April:

Meadowbank-St Johns: St Chads, 38 St Johns Rd, Meadowbank, 7.30pm-8.30pm.

Monday 29 April:

Orākei: Orākei Community Centre, 156 Kepa Rd, Orākei, 6.30pm-8pm.
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