Mayor issues invite to Minister: ‘Come to Waipā’
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan has invited a Government Minister to see first-hand the potential negative impacts of law changes aimed at building more houses, faster.
She wants Minister for the Environment David Parker to visit Waipā to see and hear Council’s concerns about changes Council planners say could dramatically change the district’s character.
The fast-tracked legislation, supported by both major political parties, will force Council to relax planning rules to introduce new residential zone standards in Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi. The changes could allow multi-storey housing on single sections, without needing a resource consent or permission from neighbours.
Council notified the required changes to its District Plan in August – proposed Plan Change 26 – but did so “very reluctantly,” O’Regan said. “It was like swallowing a rat given we had already raised concerns to the Government in May and September.”
“The changes force the same medium density housing requirements on small, rural towns like Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi as on large cities like Auckland and Wellington. That just doesn’t make sense to me or councillors.”
Council was well aware of the need for more housing, and was already working to increase the supply and range available locally, she said. That includes multi-storey options.
“We’re not against intensification and we want and need more housing in our district – that is very clear. But our approach, which is suited to our own needs, looks to have been steam-rolled. Minister Parker has indicated he’s happy to meet and discuss our concerns which is great. And I’m keen to have that meeting here on our patch so we can show him exactly what we mean.”
Meanwhile staff today provided elected members with a summary of submissions on the proposed changes. Council received a range of submissions with 37 opposed, 13 in support and 29 ‘in-part’ supporting the proposed changes. Those submitters who meet certain criteria under the Resource Management Act can make further submissions until December 10. New submissions on proposed Plan Change 26 are not allowed under legislation.
