Rodney Local Board seeking feedback on future shape of  Kumeu and Huapai

From the Rodney Local Board

Rodney Local Board calls on residents in Kumeu and Huapai to help shape their area

The Rodney Local Board wants to hear the views of Kumeu and Huapai residents about how to shape their area as it grows and develops.

These communities are growing fast with increasing demand for new amenities and better community infrastructure.  Preliminary figures for Kumeu/Huapai and Riverhead estimate that in 2022 – 2026 between 6,900 and 8,000 new dwellings will be needed.

Early and extensive consultation with the community is a key part of planning for the area says Phelan Pirrie, chairperson of the Rodney Local Board Transport, Infrastructure and Planning Committee.

“As Huapai and Kumeu continue to grow and develop, change impacts on the way that people live. People need to be involved in the plans for their area and have their say on what they think is needed.

“An essential first step is for the local board to understand local views and experiences and to hear opinions on what can be done to improve the area.

“This is the start of an important conversation with the community that will continue over many months. People also have the opportunity to talk to a local board member at a monthly link session in Huapai,” he says.

Residents are also invited to share their experiences and expectations around the changes that growth is bringing to their area by attending one of several community workshops planned for August.

Feedback is also being invited on the draft Future Urban Land Supply Strategy. This draft strategy sets out the sequence and timing for when 11,000ha of greenfield land will be ready for development in the Auckland region over 30 years. It focuses on future urban zoned land located in the north, south and north-west of the region and includes Kumeu-Huapai.

Information and feedback that comes from all these studies on growth and development will also be used to inform a Kumeu – Huapai Centre Plan.  Work on the centre plan is expected to start in early 2016. Once the centre plan is complete, it will be used by the community, local board, others parts of Auckland Council and other organisations to work together on key infrastructure and community amenity projects.

Futher Information

• Rodney Local Board Kumeu subdivision members hold regular meetings for people wanting to talk to their local board members. Known as Rodney Local Board Link Sessions, these are held on the third Thursday of every month at Huapai Service Centre from 4pm-6.30pm. People wanting to attend should call the Huapai Service Centre on 09 301 0101.
• Huapai/ Kumeu Community Planning Workshops:
  • Local businesses at Kumeu Cricket Club – Thursday, 13 August at 6.30-9.30pm
  • Sports and recreational clubs at Cricket Club Rooms, Huapai Domain, Tapu Road, Huapai – Wednesday, 12 August at 6.45pm
  • Community groups at Huapai District School, 40 Station Road, Huapai – Sunday, 16 August 2-5pm
  • Young people at Kumeu Arts Centre, 300 Main Road, Kumeu – Tuesday, 25 August 6-9pm.

For information about these workshops, please email judy.waugh@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

• The Future Urban Land Supply Strategy will provide direction on the next stages of development of approximately 11,000 hectares of land located within the Rural Urban Boundary but outside the 2010 Metropolitan Urban limit (MUL). The Future Urban Land Supply Strategy is intended to provide a significant proportion of growth outside the 2010 MUL, around 110,000 dwellings in the north, north-west and south of the region. It provides a strategy for when this land will be ready for development over the next 30 years to plan for the timely coordination of structure planning and delivery of bulk infrastructure provision.
• Public feedback is being received on the draft Future Urban Land Supply Strategy from 17 July to 17 August.  There are several have your say events in the following areas:
  • Warkworth Masonic Hall, Monday 3 August 7-8.30pm
  • Drury Community Hall, Wednesday 5 August 7-8.30pm
  • Dairy Flat School Hall, Monday 10 August 7-8.30pm
  • Kumeu Community Centre, Tuesday 11 August 7-8.30pm

• A centre plan is a non-statutory document developed by Auckland Council that provides a vision for how an area can grow and develop over the next 30 years. It is used by the community, local board, others parts of Auckland Council and other organisations to work together on key infrastructure and community amenity projects.

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Just remember the Unitary Plan is not finalised yet so the zones in the area can change thus changing the dynamics of the area as well.