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Grey Lynn 2030’s Ponsonby News column
Every month Grey Lynn 2030 has a column in Ponsonby News. Here is the column from the May edition
Grey Lynn 2030 is our local response to the Transition Towns movement that started in the UK. Our group has kicked off and run a number of local initiatives including the Grey Lynn Farmers Market, the Grey Lynn Business Association, the Car Boot Market and even our local choir. Lots of street parties, talks, movies and fun! We have been going now for five years.
In a push to encourage our vision of community resilience and sustainable living throughout Auckland, Grey Lynn 2030 is collaborating with other Transition Town groups, Pt Chev TT and Mount Eden Village People, on a series of workshops.
Our next workshop “How to Establish and Grow a Transition Town Group” is a an opportunity for networking, learning from established groups and sharing advice on how to do something similar in your area. Ponsonby, Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Freemans Bay Arch Hill -how about a Transition Town initiative? It can be as simple as a street sharing tools.
Everyone is welcome to join the workshop which is free with lunch provided from the Grey Lynn Farmers Market. The event is being held at the Grey Lynn Community Centre on Sunday 12 May 10am – 1pm. Thanks to Auckland Council for supporting the event and providing lunch. Registration is essential for catering purposes – Register withDebbie.Netley@aucklandcouncil.
Draft Unitary Plan
A particular focus of the community at the moment is our local response to the draft Unitary Plan. We want to ensure the Plan responds to the special character of Grey Lynn with particular reference to its diversity, walkability – the things we love about our suburb. Our Grey Lynn Urban Environment group (GLUE) is looking at the suburb as a whole as we grapple with issues of intensification, affordability, sustainability and heritage protection.
What do we want Grey Lynn to be like by 2030?
GLUE and the Grey Lynn Business Association are working on a submission on Grey Lynn as a suburb within the wider Auckland context. A draft of key points is available on Grey Lynn 2030’s website www.greylynn2030.co.nz
The Auckland Council’s draft Unitary Plan is open for consultation until 31 May. www.shapeauckland.co.nz
Changes suggested in the draft Unitary Plan have led to the formation of a new Grey Lynn Residents Association. Many in this group are concerned about proposed “up zoning” in areas close to West Lynn shops for terraced housing and apartment development of up to four stories in height.
All of the streets affected predominantly feature pre-1940s wooden villas and bungalows in quiet, low-rise residential streets, many with narrow roads. Liz Hancock, the spokesperson for the group, believes that intensification is fine, but not at the expense of historical areas that give Grey Lynn its unique character. The group is coordinating a street by street response. The new Association points to Great North Road, a main arterial, as the place to locate apartment style residential developments.
