Engagement Hub

In April 2019 to early May 2019 we sought your initial feedback on Draft Plan Change 6 - Regulatory Efficiency and Effectiveness Plan Change. This involved seeking feedback on:

• the recommendations from the Regulatory Efficiency and Effectiveness Programme (REEP) review proposed to make the District Plan more enabling and workable
• the correction of a mapping error in relation to the transmission line buffer zone
• rezoning Council-owned land bordering Waiwhakareke National Heritage Park to reflect the site’s purpose as a reserve.

We received 22 responses with 182 different feedback points. The feedback included a large amount of support for making the District Plan more enabling and workable. The feedback also included recommendations to incorporate additional changes to the District Plan and amend or correct a wide range of the draft provisions within Plan Change 6.

Seventeen amendments have been made to Draft Plan Change 6 following the feedback. These include technical corrections and minor amendments to provisions. The matters that were not included either fell outside the scope of Plan Change 6, are being addressed under a separate plan change or need more research and evidence before being incorporated into the District Plan. The next step is for Draft Plan Change 6 to be publicly notified. You will then have the opportunity to formally submit on the proposed changes.

Quentin Residential Ltd (QRL) lodged a proposal for an enlarged Special Housing Area (SHA) site at Quentin Drive near Hamilton Lake. The enlarged site comprises the original 2ha Quentin Drive SHA proposal approved by the Council on 10 May 2018 (which is still with the Government for a final decision), plus the site currently occupied by Jack House Transit Limited. The enlarged site is 4.17ha and proposes a yield of 111 homes in total, equating to accommodation for approximately 300 people.

We sought feedback on the proposal from residents in the area for four weeks (18 March 2019 to 12 April 2019).

We received 37 responses, including five supportive responses, eight raising concerns and 23 opposing responses. There was support for more housing in the area, noting that the area was well located near existing amenities such as the lake, hospital and town. Supporters also noted that there was sufficient traffic infrastructure to manage vehicle movements from Quentin Drive. There were concerns about traffic, access to schooling, safety, noise, increased crime and the loss of privacy. Submitters also identified concerns regarding poor drainage.

We invited submitters to speak to their feedback at an Extraordinary Council meeting on 29 April 2019, and several parties took up this offer. As a result, the resolution to recommend the proposal to the Government was amended to include a requirement for QRL to work with Te Haa o te Whenua o Kirikiriroa to complete a cultural assessment prior to applying for a qualifying development consent and for a piece of land adjacent to the site to be regarded as an affected party.

The application is now with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for consideration. The letter to the Minister noted that, in addition to their contractual obligations, QRL has committed to work with local residents to address their concerns.

Two proposals for Your Rototuna were provided for consideration. These reflected the community’s wishes to “create a welcoming community village with flexible, inviting, connected and usable spaces”. Both two proposals presented were possible within the $19.6M budget. We asked for people’s views on what they liked, or didn’t like about them, as well as the views on where the Council should prioritise spending in Rototuna. We used the feedback received to review the proposals and help us develop a final concept.

Overall, residents stressed they wanted a village that would be a place where everyone could feel at home: inclusive, welcoming and connected to the wider community.  There were themes that emerged which will and are being considered in the next phases of design – including a common desire to see the Rototuna village celebrate the past, future and diversity of all people who live there.

Specific elements of feedback on the two proposals included:

• use of good lighting and clear connections for people
• developing North City Rd with pedestrians, cyclists, mobility scooters as priority users
• providing specialised car parks near key destinations for specific users such as people with higher mobility needs
• skatepark and playground to be further away from the library entrance
• ensuring all key recreational facilities are within sightline of each other
• using different varieties of trees that will enhance shade and add character and colour
• creating a real sense of “heart” and activity in the village square and establishing this as a linking element between all facilities
• making buildings interesting and colourful
• providing a public toilet.

We received more than 1000 comments on the proposed Rototuna village designs which were then used to develop the updated “Rototuna Revisited” proposal. Which can be found here.