From the Editor: Community planning needs our input

Last edition, it was great to be able to update you on the upgrade of the Pukekohe War Memorial Town Hall. All going well, we will all get to see the renovations for ourselves this winter.

Auckland Council is now asking for feedback on plans for a new Pukekohe Community and Civic Hub, which would bring a range of community and council services together in one central, modern facility.

A social media post by Franklin Local Board member Merritt Watson has garnered much comment from residents. While it’s great to discuss our ideas for the proposed hub, it’s really important to formally submit these visions from residents and facility users to the council to ensure they are heard.

The proposal explores creating a hub that could include a modern library and learning spaces, community meeting rooms and flexible spaces for events and activities, and council customer services and civic functions. It could include spaces that support local organisations, groups and programmes, improve accessibility, safety and connectivity within the town centre, and be a facility designed to grow with Pukekohe as the population increases.

Watson says the aim is to create a well-located, future-focused hub that better reflects how people use community spaces today, while supporting the continued growth of Pukekohe.

My two cents would be to keep the library as a library. I think it’s really important to have a quiet but welcoming space for all ages – children, teens, adults, and the elderly. The facilities we have here in Franklin and North Waikato must reflect our communities.

The next time you’re in a different town or suburb, go check out their community facilities. Look for things that resonate with you, annoy you, or might work well with a Franklin or North Waikato twist to them.

Our readership is primarily on the fringes of the council seats of power. For Franklin (yes, I’m including you, Takanini and Papakura), council head offices are in Central Auckland, which is a very different community from what we have here. For North Waikato, which has many smaller, rural communities, the council HQ is in Ngāruawāhia.

As a North Waikato resident myself, the nearest council offices are a half-hour drive away in Tuakau and not on the way to work or school. What works for West Auckland, Central Auckland, or the North Shore isn’t always going to work for Franklin. The same applies to North Waikato. We need to be active participants in consultation processes to make our leaders understand our needs and what works for our communities.