City councillors will this evening give their final approval for a long-term “sustainable village community” in the Mangaroa Valley.
The Maymorn Structure Plan, which, during the next 20 years, could realise a community of 1800 properties of various density and housing more than 4000 people, will be sited on the north-eastern corner of the Mangaroa Valley and bound by the river and surrounding hills.
The detailed plan, which already has been more than five years in development under the umbrella of the city’s Urban Growth Strategy, will now be available for public input and consultation, with submissions and hearings in late August.
“This is an exciting concept for Upper Hutt. We are creating a village in a rural environment that will be the envy of a lot of other local authorities in the … region,” councillor Nellie Gillies said.
“It’s a whole new way of looking at development,” she said, asking people to read it “thoroughly and impartially” even though the project was years away from a start “and has to be seen in that light”.
Pat Christianson said Upper Hutt was fortunate it was able to promote such a development.
“Not many councils in New Zealand could do this like this.”
Others spoke of the importance of the city’s commitment to the sustainability of the long-term planning project.
“My concern is we really push the sustainability [of it] … so that it’s not just a word,” Mary Archibald said. Dean Rabbitt agreed. “This is a great opportunity to signal our commitment to sustainability, development and standards.”