Waimauku West Parliamentary Petition
You’ve asked where you could sign to oppose Waimauku West, we have just launched a parliamentary petition!
Now we need your help – please sign and share widely:
https://petitions.parliament.nz/ae84e6b4-cb60-4172-708c-08def9615f86?lang=en
We’re pleased to have Chris Penk MP’s support who will receive our petition on 23 September in Wellington to present it to Parliament.
As Waimauku West has already been accepted into Fast-track, it must run through the process so we can’t ask it to be removed, but we can ask for an amendment of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 to prohibit the approval of the Waimauku West fast-track development, and to prohibit approval for other housing outside areas identified for future growth unless necessary public infrastructure is planned and funded. This will help all communities facing similar issues.
Remember, anyone can sign a petition, anywhere, any age.
Waimauku West would change our community for good. The fast-track process should not bypass the people who will live with the consequences. Communities deserve a say when major developments affect roads, flooding, services and everyday life.
We all know our community will continue to grow.
Flooding needs to be mitigated. Infrastructure needs to come first and keep pace, locals should not bear the cost through longer commutes, worsening congestion and increasing pressure on already stretched roads.
The decisions being made today will shape Waimauku for decades to come. If we don’t get this right, future generations will be left dealing with the consequences.
Our concerns need to be heard and properly addressed.
Give a little – Fightback fund
We need your help to fight back. We are a small group of volunteers taking on a very big issue. We need support to help cover legal fees and, if we can, bring in an expert to strengthen our opposition against Waimauku West. Every contribution helps us keep going and make sure the community’s voice is properly heard. You can donate through our Givealittle page here:
Or via bank transfer into our account:
Waimauku Community Association Incorporated
02-0200-0408537-000
Waimauku in the News
Fast-track is a nationwide hot topic currently, with many projects including Waimauku West being covered in the media. This means we are being noticed and has resulted in national and local government taking notice too.
New Zealand Herald’s Katie Bradford featured our petition in an exclusive article on Monday and has published multiple articles on Waimauku West and other fast-tracks in our electorate.
OneNews featured the proposed high-rise development in Devonport and interviewed Tatjana from the Waimauku Community Association; Sunday Star Times featured Waimauku West and other fast-track residential developments; RNZ, The Press and NewsTalkZB reported on fast-tracks from around the country. Check our facebook page where we regularly share new articles.
The mayors of Auckland, Queenstown Lakes, Tauranga, Waimakariri and Selwyn have jointly sent a letter to the government, “calling on the Government to pause existing greenfield housing fast-track applications. They are asking all political parties to support legislation to remove residential development in rural areas from the Fast-Track Approvals Act 2024. “
View the articles and mayors’ letter here
Community Update: Thu 10 September 7pm, Waimauku School
The next Waimauku West Community response update meeting will be on Thursday 10 September, 7pm at Waimauku School hall. We hope to see you there!
Please encourage your friends and neighbours to come along.
Meet the Candidates Meeting: Sun 20 September 3pm, Waimauku War Memorial Hall
We are hosting a Meet the Candidates Event on Sunday 20 September, 3-5pm at the Waimauku War Memorial Hall. All welcome!
All local independent and party candidates have been invited.
Our MC Christine Rose will interview candidates on a wide range of topics including health, education, transport and local interests such as infrastructure, public transport, growth plans and fast-track developments.
Please come along to hear what our candidates are planning to bring to our electorate. It’s a great way to find out more about our candidates, their motivations, values and party’s policies.
Have a question to ask of our candidates?
Click here to submit your question
Transport Infrastructure
The office of Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that the much-needed North-West Alternative State Highway 16 has no construction start date and it is anticipated it might be delivered within the next 30 years.
WCA supports well-planned growth. Our concerns remain around the lack of current and planned infrastructure. SH16 through Kumeū already is one of the country’s busiest road, carrying more than 36,000 vehicles per day between Kumeū and Brigham Creek, far more than the 22,000 vehicles using Transmission Gully. If development happens before the bypass and additional infrastructure is in place traffic will only get worse.
Other Fast-Track news
The proposed plan to build 1,000 houses on the Pegasus golf course in Canterbury was denied fast-track approval last week, which is a definite win!
Over 40% of the projects approved under the new Fast-track pathway are housing developments, well ahead of renewable energy and infrastructure projects. Out of those projects still in the fast-track pipeline, nearly half are housing projects. The original ‘Fast-track’ Shovel-ready programme put in place during the Covid period focused on shovel-ready projects to encourage large infrastructure projects to go ahead and support investment, employment and economic growth.
There are growing calls to review the Act, particularly around housing with a recent change announced by Chris Bishop for councils to be able to recover costs of infrastructure from fast-tracked projects, but unfortunately this comes too late for Waimauku and other existing applications as it only applies to new applications.