MEDIA RELEASE

2 September 2005

Get involved in Ellerslie's future

The first stage of developing a strategy to manage change in Ellerslie is drawing to a close.

As part of the Ellerslie’s Future Framework project, Auckland City is running two focus groups on Wednesday 7 and Saturday 10 September. The focus group topics are, respectively:

- community recreation facilities and parks

- sense of place, character and heritage.

The first will look at the level of community and park facilities currently available and attendees will discuss future recreation needs.

The sense of place discussion will ask the community to identify those things that capture the essence of Ellerslie. This may include special things, both contemporary and historic, about Ellerslie’s natural and built landscape and stories about people and places, Outcomes will revolve around protecting, enhancing and developing Ellerslie's distinctive character.

Auckland City would like to encourage members of the Ellerslie community interested in being heard on these topics to get involved and contribute to the development of the draft plan for Ellerslie.

Auckland city is growing every day and the council is working with local communities across the isthmus to ensure that the city develops into New Zealand's most liveable urban area.

Ellerslie's future framework is a step in this process. It allows the council and community to plan for growth and is an opportunity for the entire Ellerslie community – residents, businesses and the council – to contribute to strengthening and finding a future direction for the area.

Developing a framework for Ellerslie is timely in light of the level of development currently occurring in the area.

People interested in attending should contact:
Kitty Jonker, Environmental Planning, Auckland City
(09) 307 7492

In November, a community workshop will take place, which will use the information gathered throughout the consultation process to date to identify possible development scenarios for Ellerslie.

The sense of place, character and heritage focus group coincides with Auckland City's Heritage Week, a programme of free and low-cost events throughout the isthmus celebrating the city's past. Ellerslie's contribution to Heritage Week is a self-guided walk down memory lane. Pick up a copy of the Ellerslie Town Heritage Walk brochure at the community police station Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm.

ENDS

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