Media release

Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer

Monday, 10 June 2013

Council must consider late Unitary Plan feedback as promised

“Many Aucklanders may have missed out on getting their Unitary Plan feedback accepted, despite assurances last month that late public submissions would be formally considered,” says Auckland Councillor for Orakei, Cameron Brewer.

He suspects hundreds of people had real trouble pushing feedback through on the draft Unitary Plan email address and website immediately after 5.00pm on Friday 31 May with auto-responses bouncing back saying feedback had closed.

Last week the Unitary Plan Response Team also informed the councillor and a late submitter that the council could not give a 100% assurance that late feedback would be considered.

“Late and frustrated submitters have begged with councillors and local board members to make sure their feedback counts, but worryingly council staff have refused to give a 100 % commitment that late feedback will be accepted,” says Cameron Brewer.

“On 23 May seven of us councilllors tried to get an extension of time for public feedback, but sadly failed. However during that debate a commitment was made by those councillors leading the process that late feedback would be accepted. That olive branch was accepted by all of us in good faith.

“However in a move completely at odds with the advice and commitment we received, planning staff soon seemingly reneged on it, and they’ve been allowed to get away with it

“I call on the Mayor to give an absolute commitment that all late feedback submitted in the immediate days following will be accepted, formally considered, and responded to. All Aucklanders deserve to be heard on this.

“After all this was an informal public feedback period, not a statutory one, so there are no hard and fast rules. Given the real community concern out there, the council needs to err on the side of generosity, even though it might not enjoy reading many of these late submissions.

“Yes it was an 11-week public engagement period, but only in the last couple of weeks was the public made fully aware that 49% of urban Auckland proposed for ‘mixed housing’ was potentially up for three storeys not two. Given the significance of such late information, it is another good reason why the council needs to be a little more lenient.

“This is such a major issue that has packed community halls like we haven’t seen for a generation. Let’s hear from everyone, including those who have been a little tardy,” says Cameron Brewer

Ends

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