Give rural communities voting power to protect special character, says Chamber of Commerce

The Auckland Chamber of Commerce wants a provision added to Auckland’s governance legislation to give rural communities a voting power in respect of land use applications and decisions.

Presenting to the Auckland Governance Select Committee today, Chamber head Michael Barnett noted that one of the arguments driving campaigns in Franklin and Rodney to separate from Auckland is a perception that under a single Auckland council their rural character will be compromised.

“This concern doesn’t just apply to Franklin and Rodney, but also other distinctive rural communities in Waitakere, Manukau as well as Waiheke and Great Barrier Islands.”

To address these concerns and the pressures rural areas are under to convert rural uses into urban development, the Chamber suggests that provision be made in the legislation giving distinctive rural communities voting power in respect of land use applications.

ENDS

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