RUB Discussions

Written by Ben Ross - Talking Auckland

All Things Southern RUB

 

Last night I resumed my jet-setting around Auckland attending Unitary Plan community meetings. Last night I popped down the road to Drury to sit  and listen in on all things Southern Rural Urban Boundary and the questions that followed. What I did not do was get the presentation given by the planners in hard-copy form to upload here to the blog. I will flick an email out today requesting a copy of the presentation so that I can upload it for your reading pleasure.

 

I must say though that these Unitary Plan meetings are getting better and better – although Southern Auckland has done quite well in attending and asking the serious questions. Okay we might not be able to pack out a room like Orakei can but there were around 100-120 last night all paying attention and pretty much all scribbling notes from the RUB presentation last night. The questions that followed as I just mentioned were excellent questions that covered both the RUB area and the wider city. I tip my hat to Southern Auckland for asking these regional type questions as it shows we do think about the wider city – as well as our home. Well done. 

 

I do have one quip though and this reflected to Council and that is; there was all the hard copy information on the Rural Urban Boundary (most which I have uploaded any how) and CD copies as well. That is great as the residents including myself can pick up these copies and go away and read them (or upload for wider distribution). But why could all this be not made available on March 16 when the Unitary Plan AND Rural Urban Boundary Addendum was released publicly. The information while great it is out now is rather late and does give rise for a need for a full second round of informal consultation in July and August similar to what we are having now. Just a note Council to take into account next time

 

Note: The Planners were virtually tripping over themselves last night in regards to the Weymouth-Karaka Bridge which has kicked off a large amount of angst in the Southern Auckland area. They stressed that the bridge is not an option, not designated, not funded for (which would be consistent with the Auckland Transport Integrated Transport Program). However, as Councillor Chris Fletcher stated last night:

The subtle, bull in the china shop approach by Auckland Council leaders responsible for unleashing the Weymouth Bridge as part of the addendum to the RUB in the Unitary Plan do not realise they have opened pandora’s box. Difficult to close now despite promises to remove from future maps. The damage is done. They should have done their homework first.

 

I am awaiting the new maps from Council to which once I have them I will upload them here at BR:AKL.

 

 

Questions the residents asked

 

As I said the residents asked very good questions last night – some even I would not think of. As I also mentioned earlier the questions were often double pronged with a focus on both home and the region. Some of the questions asked were:

  • What shaped the Rural Urban Boundaries. The answer to that is in the RUB Addendum which I will embed below (as well as uploading the presentation once I get it)
  • A note from the Planners stating that the RUB is separate from the main Unitary Plan and that dialogue is still under way in setting the RUB before THAT part comes back out for more consultation
  • What urban forms will take place inside the RUB area once up for development. The answer to that is pretty much everything and any thing residential and business wise from; single homes to terrace homes and possible four story apartments, as well as commercial centres that are either seen in the General Business Zone or Local Centre layout (4 storeys currently). For more on the urban forms see: THE CLUNKER AND BUSINESS ZONES and THE CLUNKER AND RESIDENTIAL ZONING. However the planners are still working through this particular process at the moment, with industry is being dealt with separately
  • Rates if you are currently rural and fall inside the RUB – how do you get rated. This I heard but I will ask Council specifically for a specific response today. Once I have that response I will post an update here.
  • State Highway One got mentioned again with its capacity issues if the RUB is fully developed. A reminder that State Highway One is an NZTA issue with Council nor AT having no control over it. However the State Highway One issue raised this particular issue that Southern Auckland is talking about
  • Decentralisation of the CBD, something that scares the Greens and Auckland Transport Blog – but an issue I am covering extensively.

 

The Papakura and Franklin residents – thinking about the region did ask about employment centres here in the South as well as transport issues with the continued over-reliance on centralisation of the Auckland CBD. I made a specific point of this in both Facebook and Twitter last night which did get responses:

I have noted from tonight’s Papakura/Franklin combined Local Board meeting on the Southern RUB an over reliance of the CBD as the primary centralised (employment) hub of Auckland which created a nexus effect drawing everyone in creating addition problems on our transport network. The residents asked tonight why there was not more focus in decentralising and putting more emphasis on employments centres else where.

The planners replied that the Metropolitan and Town Centres do do that.
That is incorrect of the planners as the Mayor has put an over emphasis on the CBD creating the problems now and in the future.

Decentralisation was what the residents what to help save our city and its transport system – something I am going to do my best in an address to Auckland Council on May 14. Might pay to be there as I make a very important case (of my career as well)
https://voakl.net/2013/04/26/off-to-the-auckland-plan-committee/

 

Green MP Julie-Ann Genter and Auckland Transport predictably replied to the statement refuting what I said. While I respect them both I also was dismissive of their replies as I see things rather differently – hence my May 14 presentation.

 

That aside though; last night was great and tonight I am off to Alfriston (up the road this time) to talk zones.

Below is an information dump on the RUB and Southern RUB

 

BEN ROSS : AUCKLAND

BR:AKL: Bring Well Managed Progress

The Unitary Plan: Bringing Change

Auckland: 2013 – OUR CITY, OUR CALL

 

The Rural Urban Boundary and Inclusionary Zoning Addendum

 

Southern Rub Engagement and Feedback Report

Rural Urban Boundaries – South End (note: this is NOT the updated version)

Papakura RUB Fact Sheet

Rural Urban Boundary Addendum (cover only)

 

3 thoughts on “RUB Discussions”

  1. We are very interested to know why your chairperson and now your Committee it seems (could be wrong)seems to want to “prevent” Karaka residents from expressing an opinion on the proposed Weymouth – Karaka bridge and the Associated Sewage Treatment Plant and stormwater run off and Manukau Harbour pollution. ? According to the minutes and records of your Association you express opinions about many matters to Councils and statutory authorities all the time, usually without consulting a full public meeting about the issues? For resident’s information when a Chairperson refuses to accept a motion from the floor for discussion the correct procedure to disagree with the ruling is to move that the Chairs ruling be disagreed with, and a vote should then be taken without discussion. We look forward to you rejoining the Manukau Harbour Protection Society to reactivate the Coalition of Community, Conservation Organisations and Iwi.
    Best wishes for the meeting Manukau Harbour Protection Society – John McCaffery

    1. John, far from preventing people expressing their opinion on the bridge, this meeting on the 13th May is bringing this subject out in the open. We as an association are going out of our way to make sure the people of Karaka are well informed on the draft Unitary Plan and RUB and can make good submissions on same.
      Cathy Yates

  2. The Karaka Resident & Ratepayers Association have organised two public meetings in Karaka on the RUB. The first in February attracted 250 people the second in April attracted 175. We are organising another public meeting on Monday 13th May in the Karaka Hall at 7.30pm. This meeting is to give the Karaka Collective the opportunity to speak to the community about the Council Southern RUB options, transport linkages and the Collective’s vision for future settlement in Karaka. Our Association is hosting this public meeting and does not have a view on the proposal for or against and will remain neutral throughout. The people of Karaka are very aware of the need for input to this draft Unitary Plan and we are making sure they are very well informed.
    This is a public meeting and hope that Weymouth people in particular will attend also.

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