Councillors Mark Donnelly and Greg McKeown welcome Centre Plan for Mt Eden, and character protection for Eden Valley and Kingsland.

Auckland City Council, has publicly notified several crucial District Plan changes which help protect the heritage and character of three town centres in the Eden-Albert ward.

These plan changes were instigated by Councillors Donnelly and McKeown. They put the original proposals to the City Development Committee in 2003, and then ensured there was funding available in last years annual plan round.

“I’d like to acknowledge the hard work put in by Council staff in preparing these plan changes – they’ve been done in record time” said Councillor Donnelly.” I’m particularly pleased that the new concept we introduced of a heritage/character overlay for town centres is to proceed, and that once it’s in place we will be able to look at extending its protection to other important town centres”.

“The Centre Plan for Mt Eden, is crucial for the village, and supports the work being done with the Methodist Church and local community, to retain the church building with enhanced community access” said Councillor McKeown.

The plan changes also include design guidelines to assist applicants with their building or alterations. The Urban Design panel will also have a roll in reviewing buildings or alterations.

The Centre Plans for Mt Eden and St Heliers, are the first new centre plans in many years to be undertaken by Council.

The plan change 132 – Character Overlay, and Plan Change 123 Mt Eden Centre plan were publicly notified on Sunday 12 Sept.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

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