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- By Alan Cole, Franklin Local Board chair
Aucklanders can once again have their say on Plan Change 120 (PC120), and I encourage Franklin residents to take a close look at what is proposed for our communities.
PC120 is Auckland Council’s plan for where future housing growth should occur while also strengthening protections from flooding and other natural hazards.
Following changes to government legislation, the council has revised the plan originally notified in 2025 and is seeking further public feedback until September 24.
For Franklin, one of the most significant changes is that much of the widespread intensification previously proposed across Auckland has been scaled back.
The revised approach focuses growth more strongly in locations with good access to public transport, jobs, services and existing infrastructure, while many areas further from major centres and rapid transit have seen earlier intensification proposals reduced or removed.
Around 85 percent of Auckland’s urban area is proposed to remain under the zoning framework established through the 2016 Auckland Unitary Plan.
In Pukekohe, parts of the town centre, including sections of King Street, are still proposed to accommodate building heights of up to 23 metres on the northern side, reflecting the role Pukekohe is expected to play as a major growth centre in Auckland’s south.
Just as important for Franklin is the continued emphasis on natural hazard management.
Stronger rules are proposed to limit development in areas at higher risk from flooding, landslides, coastal erosion and coastal inundation.
Updated flood modelling and rainfall information have also been used to identify areas where development capacity should be reduced to better protect people, property and communities.
As Franklin continues to grow, it is important that we strike the right balance between providing housing opportunities, protecting productive rural land, ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development, and maintaining the character of the communities that people value.
The Independent Hearings Panel needs to hear directly from local residents about what works, what doesn’t, and how we can best plan for Franklin’s future.
Submissions are open until 5pm on September 24 and anyone can make a submission. As part of CRL opening on September 13, local Pukekohe bus services will be significantly improved to better connect trains.
The 391 Northeast Pukekohe, 392 Northwest Pukekohe and 393 South Pukekohe services will all start from earlier in the morning and operate later into the evening, with services running until around 11.20pm every day.
Read the full column at www.franklintimes.co.nz.
