Auckland Council is encouraging locals to have their say on proposed changes to the city’s planning rulebook before public consultation closes on Monday.
Chair of the Planning Committee, Councillor Chris Darby is urging all Aucklanders to give feedback on the Auckland Unitary Plan.
“Aucklanders care about and have strong views on housing in our city, and we want them to help us understand if we’re on the right track with the limited decisions we can make,” he said.
“While most of the government’s changes are mandatory, the council’s decisions will be crucial to shaping how our city grows to meet the housing needs of current and future Aucklanders.
“It is a key opportunity for everyone to inform the council’s proposed changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan before a draft plan change is decided.”
The council is currently seeking public feedback following central government’s new requirements for more housing across the city at greater building height and density. This is available at akhaveyoursay.nz/housing.
The government’s changes include apartments of six storeys or more within walking distances of Auckland’s city centre, 10 large metropolitan centres and around Auckland’s train and busway stations and more medium-density housing of up to three storeys across almost all Auckland suburbs.
Deputy chair of the Planning Committee, Councillor Josephine Bartley, says: “It is vital that all our diverse communities across Auckland make their voices heard about how our city grows in the future”.
“These changes will directly impact how we allow for more housing and more choices for all people in communities across our whole city.
“This is one of the most important consultations Auckland Council is holding this year. There’s still time to submit feedback and I encourage everyone to have their say,” she said.
Following consultation, feedback will inform the Council’s proposed plan change to the Auckland Unitary Plan, which must be publicly notified by 20 August 2022.
As required by the government, an Independent Hearings Panel will consider all public submissions, hear from submitters, and then make recommendations to the council on changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan.
