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Protest about the plan for Kainga Ora – Homes and Communities to build 37 homes in Bonair Crescent, Millwater, have not fallen on deaf ears.
At the end of last month, following intervention by MP Mark Mitchell and objections by Millwater residents, the development plan was suspended while feedback is sought from the community.
Residents became aware of the proposed social housing enclave a few months ago via a rumour on social media.
Kianga Ora north and west regional manager, Taina Jones, acknowledges that the organisation should have approached locals earlier to get their views.
“We are starting over, so we can genuinely listen to the community,” Jones says. “We recognise that there are some strong views against us building public housing in this area, but in our experience Kainga Ora customers are generally positive members of their communities. There are also many people we have not yet heard from, and we want to understand their thoughts about a potential development.”
Whangaparāoa MP Mark Mitchell says the agreement to consult came after high level negotiations. He says he hopes during consultation the community could put forward a solution that would help young people get into KiwiBuild housing with perhaps some limited social housing to meet the genuine needs of local people.
He says good faith discussions like this could be a blueprint for future consultation between the community and Kainga Ora in future, enabling developments to be delivered that the community can support and that meet its needs.
“It’s a win and shows what can be achieved when all parties work together to achieve a solution,” Mitchell says.
A Millwater resident who does not wish to be named says she appreciates the fact that Kainga Ora have listened and are asking for the community’s views.
“We would hope they take that feedback on board,” she says. “There is no point in consulting if they don’t take any action as a result. The site is simply wrong for what is proposed, and the number of houses suggested is too big.”
She says there is massive support for KiwiBuild for first home buyers and young families.
Feedback opened on June 23 and closes on August 26. It is via an online forum on Kainga Ora’s website and already more than 400 comments have been posted.
Backstories April 18 and June 13, 2022
