Key events get areas moving

MIKE BISHARA

Kumeu-Huapai is arguably more strategically placed than Silverdale and Warkworth to enhance Auckland supercity development.

The area is expected to be one of the fastest growing parts of Rodney district, itself the third fastest growing council in the country.

The townsof Huapai and Kumeu have a population of 1400 which is expected to reach 3800 by 2021. They appear equally well placed, off the end of the northwestern motorway, as their east coast rivals to attract coveted green information technology zones offering residents a lifestyle environment equal to that in Orewa and Warkworth.

Development at Kumeu and Huapai has been a long time coming but a number of key events could put the glass slipper on Rodney's Cinderella at long last.

Submissions have closed for a variation in the district plan which would allow for the staged developing of up to 1100 new residential sections in Huapai North.

The changes propose that about 90 hectares of land zoned future urban be rezoned residential, with provision for a small area of local shops. Hearings are scheduled for mid September with an agenda report summarising the submissions available by September 10.

If approved, the changes would be the largest rezoning of greenfield land within Rodney since the Silverdale North residential and business rezoning was notified in 2005.

The Rodney District Council has approved the preparation of a change to its district plan which will allow a mix of countryside living and business park areas to be developed alongside one another in Huapai South. The council consulted residents on two options for the south – develop the area as business land only or develop business and countryside living areas together.

Feedback from a series of open days in the second quarter of last year indicated residents' concerns about the potential for noise and visual effects associated with proposed business activity.

As a result the council agreed to increase the amount of countryside living land in Huapai South and reduce the amount of business land.

Preparation of the proposed changes is under way and further consultation with other statutory bodies is planned.

Residents and developers will have the opportunity to comment on proposed changes through a public consultation process.

No date is set but it could be early next year under the new Auckland council.

Kumeu-Huapai can expect more attention under the new council given its affinity with Waitakere rather than the east coast.

Still the timing of development in the town and any plan changes will be dependent on when public water and wastewater servicing is available.

After waiting for more than 20 years, the Rodney council last year completed and passed plans for a service that will have residents fully covered by the end of next year.

From November 1 responsibility for the provision of water and wastewater services will pass from Rodney District Council to Watercare Services. Wastewater services are to be available to Kumeu-Huapai and Riverhead residents from December 2011.

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