Locals Weigh in on Awakeri Growth Plans

Whakatāne District Council said a newly formed community reference group is providing valuable criticism and insight into how Awakeri could grow in the decades ahead.

Following the first meeting of the Community Reference Group, Manager of Projects, Planning and Consents Nicholas Woodley said the group has provided valuable feedback on the development of Awakeri.

Woodley said these meetings are important for shaping what housing, transport and community spaces could look like in the future. 

Twenty-five members attended the workshop last month, where the strengths, challenges, opportunities and risks in of developing Awakeri from a local perspective were discussed. 

"One of the strongest themes was the sense of community and how deep those connections run."

He said the group showed strong appreciation for social aspects provided by the school and event centre.

"The school featured heavily in people's stories, it's more than just a place of learning, it's a bit of a central hub."

There was also a strong appreciation and understanding of the natural environment, which has shaped the lifestyle for many in the area, he said. 

"There was a lot covered in that first meeting and a lot of ideas shared and expressed."

"We've played with a lot of that and so we really are looking forward to continuing to work with the community reference group to see where it takes us and what people will come up with."

The next meeting will be held on May 20th, where the group will begin influencing early development plans.

This could include input on geotechnical, flooding and water-related information. 

"They bring a lot of value to it and are really playing a crucial role in helping to shape what the structure plan could become," he said. 

The local knowledge is extremely valuable in ensuring draft structure plans are well informed and reflect the needs of the community, he said.  

Once developement plans informed by the reference group are complete, they will go out for wider community consultation. 

"It's early days, but it's important work because it shapes, what the next 30 plus years could look like in Aotearoa," Woodley said.