Significant urbanization signaled from Opaheke to Clarks Beach warns Local Board member

Papakura Local Board member Caroline Conroy is concerned that many local residents and board members in Papakura and Franklin won’t be aware of the scale of new urban development that is being proposed within the Auckland Plan. None of the summary documents give any indication of the massive Greenfield urbanization that is being considered within the discussion document on the Auckland Plan and also a recent Community Summit on the Auckland Plan that Ms Conroy attended in Manukau did not highlight this proposal either. Yet tucked away on page 149 of the 220 page document is a map showing ‘possible new areas’ for development. Ms Conroy said the map has shaded areas marked as “possible additional areas for New Urban Development (Greenfields). The area marked covers the rural areas adjacent to Red Hill and Opaheke stretching to Drury and then from Drury to Clarks Beach.

My concern is that unless people are aware of this proposal they may not even take much interest in the discussion documents that out for consultation at the moment. The scale of this proposed urban development is quite at odds with the ‘Compact City’ that is being promoted. If people aren’t aware of these proposals they are unlikely to read the full volume document and are then very unlikely to write submissions to the Council about this proposal.

This discussion document is really important as it gives people a chance early in the process to signal the aspects of the Plan they like or dislike before it becomes a draft document. With 9 years experience as a Local Councillor on the previous Papakura district Council and an active campaigner against the Supercity Ms Conroy knows all too well how hard it is to get changes made to draft documents. Ms Conroy says the discussion document on the Auckland Plan that is currently out for consultation is a great opportunity for peoples views to help shape this document but they do need to be well informed about what is proposed if they are to going to contribute. Ms Conroy is disappointed that the summary documents don’t mention important aspects such as this.

The Local Boards are planning a few information sessions for the public about the Auckland Plan and the Local Board Plans but Ms Conroy is concerned that people are unlikely to attend these sessions unless they are aware of specific aspects that are going to affect their local area. The summary documents currently include a range of general statements and principles that are likely to get support from most people but as they say ‘the devil is always in the detail’.

Ms Conroy is also concerned that maps showing existing and future rail networks do not mention a rail station at Drury, something that has been well supported by the local community and the previous Papakura District and Franklin District Councils.

Given the importance of this document Ms Conroy is making time available at a regular monthly forum she co-hosts to discuss the Auckland Plan discussion document and explain how make submissions to the Plan and she will also be organising a meeting at Drury so that more indepth discussion can occur around the Plan.

Carolines meetings: Left Here forum Monday 9th May 7.30pm , at the Papakura Senior Citizens Hall, 8 East St. As well as this months guest speaker there will be time for a discussion on the Auckland Plan.
13th May 7pm – Drury Hall (to be confimed – I should have this confirmed later today)

Local Boards also have information sessions planned: you’ll need to contact Local Board offices for dates/ times
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