Latest on Plan Change 120 and Devonport
Spokesperson McRae
Options Worse For Devonport Under Plan Change 120
Under Auckland Council’s latest PC 120 proposal some Devonport sites could be rezoned Mixed Housing Suburban
This allows for multiple dwellings or terrace apartments of up to 2 storeys per site.
Previously 256 Devonport sites would lose their Special Character Area protections but would still be zoned as Single House Zone.
This is a worse outcome than the original PC 120 that locals submitted on.
The Plan Change was back in the news this week as Auckland councillors voted to send two options for the plan change to local boards for their feedback.
Both Option A and B have the same outcome for Devonport resulting in 256 properties losing their Special Character in pockets on the edges of Devonport’s borders namely:
The back of the Masonic; along Vauxhall Rd by Mt Cambria; the Ariho / Empire / Abbotsford area; and Turnbull - Old Lake Rd.
The council had assessed these properties to not be of sufficient Special Character value.
We strongly contest that and have challenged the Council’s method of scoring individual houses.
We argue that Devonport is a clearly defined geographical area whose character depends on the whole being recognised as a coherent area. Dividing off pockets will erode the integrity and heritage value of Devonport.
Here is a TIMELINE for this torturous process:
June/July 2026: Local boards and iwi will give their feedback
July/August: Council Planning Committee will consider feedback and decide which option for PC 120 to approve.
August: Public submissions open (again) on the altered PC 120
September: The Independent Hearings panel hearings will begin.
June 2027: The Hearings Panel will make their decision and report to Auckland Council who will ratify the Plan Change.
(The Hearings Panel has already told Council that it will be very difficult to make the deadline imposed by the Government).
What You Can Do
Pressure the Devonport/Takapuna Local Board to reject these proposals.
Call on the Board, Auckland Councillors and the Hearings Panel to extend the time period for the whole process as there is little chance of meeting the deadline.
Make a submission on the changes to the Independent Hearings Panel. Even people who did not make an earlier submission can make one.
The Task Ahead
Devonport Heritage will ask the Devonport/Takapuna Local Board for speaking rights so we can put our case on the proposals to PC 120.
You can come along and support us at the meeting on 23 June at 10am at the local board office in Takapuna
Or you can email your local board members and councillors.
The Back Story (short version)
This undemocratic process began 6 years ago when central government ordered local councils to zone for more housing intensification.
Through several iterations, changes and reversals this complicated and torturous process has divided communities and caused misunderstandings, anxiety and anger.
By the time it’s finished, it will have cost Auckland Council at least $20 million.
If ever there was a case for central Government staying out of local politics, this is it.