Franklin Local Board Member Gary Holmes, representing the Waiuku sub-division, is calling on Auckland Council to explicitly exclude Waiuku from its redrawn housing intensification plan, arguing that a currently blocked greenfield development (Private Plan Change 73) is a far better, fiscally responsible solution for the town's growth.

With the government recently directing the council to review which areas should be spared from blanket density under the proposed Plan Change 120 , Holmes says Waiuku must be removed from the intensification list. He also plans to formally request that the Council’s Chief Executive immediately drop its wasteful High Court appeal against PC 73.

"The government's U-turn has given the Council the perfect opportunity to rethink where intensification actually makes sense," says Holmes. "Forcing unfunded, top-down infill on a rural town like Waiuku is completely unnecessary when we have a master-planned, community-supported alternative ready to go. Waiuku must be removed from the blanket intensification plan."

Holmes points out that the Environment Court has already endorsed PC 73, which promises to deliver a master-planned community of 700 to 800 homes, an indicative retirement village, and critical developer-funded infrastructure.

"Plan Change 73 already caters for our growth in a fiscally responsible way. It embodies the principle of 'growth paying for growth.' The developers are legally bound to fund major infrastructure themselves, including a new stormwater diversion pipeline that will actually fix existing flooding hazards in the Breaker Grove area at zero cost to the ratepayer. Why force intensification that stretches our aging pipes when private investment is offering to build new ones?"

Holmes expressed frustration that the Council is using public funds to litigate against the development in the High Court based on superseded environmental policies.

"Instead of embracing this developer-funded infrastructure, Council bureaucrats are bleeding ratepayer money in court to block it, defending outdated red tape. They are arguing to protect soils under the old 2022 rules, but as of 15 January 2026, the government amended the law to explicitly exempt Class 3 soils from these urban development restrictions to get houses built. Fighting this in court now is fiscally reckless."

Holmes confirmed he will be writing to the Council to demand action.

"I will be formally writing to the Chief Executive to request that he withdraw this wasteful legal action immediately. If common sense doesn't prevail and the Council insists on pushing unfunded infill while fighting developer-funded growth, I am fully prepared to bring a formal Notice of Motion to the Local Board to force the issue." 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this press release are the personal views of Gary Holmes in his capacity as an elected member and do not represent the majority view or formal position of the Franklin Local Board or Auckland Council.

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