Press Release from Hamish Stevens Howick Community Board Member
4 April 2009

High rises on the way for Howick

Peoples Choice members on the Howick Community Board, Hamish Stevens and Lyn Murphy are predicting that Howick’s hard won gains will be lost if the government accepts the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.

Mr Stevens said that the people of Howick had better get used to the idea of high rise development and the loss of Howick’s residential heritage zone protection.

This is because the super city will not be constrained by any local representation.

“With community boards in Manukau City being abolished, Howick will have no community representation under the proposed model” said Mr Stevens Mr Stevens referred to the Auckland Regional Council’s desire to see intensive high rise development in Howick. This was Auckland’s plan for Howick. This was defeated three years ago, only when Howick residents voiced their strong opposition and with the backing of the Howick Community Board forced Manukau City to amend its annual plan.

“Don’t be in any doubt – the Auckland supporters of intensive development will be back, and with no Howick or eastern community representation we will loose all that we have fought for and won over recent years.

Mr Stevens said Howick can not rely on the proposed Manukau local council to represent it. “The bureaucrats in Wiri have not supported Howick and the east in the past, and they are not going to start now” Mr Stevens said it was also likely that Howick’s residential heritage zone protection which prevents in-fill intensification and multi-unit dwellings will also disappear without effective Howick representation.

Mr Stevens said Peoples Choice is campaigning for the 11 local council option discussed but rejected by the Royal Commission. This would mean three local councils in the former Manukau City area including one comprising Howick, Pakuranga, and Botany.

“This would provide stronger and more effective local representation for these eastern communities of interest” said Mr Stevens.

Hamish Stevens Member Howick Community Board

ENDS

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