Our town is changing!
‘The Super City’s southern-most town has been given a green light for a “game-changing” make-over.
Auckland Council-controlled organisation, Panuku Development Auckland, was given the go ahead this week – to progress on a strategy to unlock Pukekohe’s potential.
Pukekohe is facing rapid growth and increased population and Panuku said its work on the town centre would create a central hub for southern Auckland and northern Waikato communities.
Data projections show that the population in Pukekohe is expected to double from 21,000 people now, to more than 40,000 people by 2040.
Auckland’s deputy mayor and Franklin ward councillor Bill Cashmore said Panuku’s regeneration of the Pukekohe town centre would retain the country feel of the town.
“Pukekohe is such a special place,” Cashmore said.
“The work Panuku Development Auckland is actively engaged in would create greater quality, opportunity and employment – while retaining and enhancing the country town feel and ambience.”
Franklin Local Board deputy chair Andy Baker said the underlying message was that the regeneration was an unprecedented opportunity to future-proof Pukekohe’s town centre.
“The process has had to go through a number of internal council steps to get confirmed – including some detailed business case work. Now that it has been confirmed across council, the work will begin to identify what can be achieved through possible sale, purchases and collaboration with private land owners.”
Local board chair Angela Fulljames said the plan was to utilise property better to generate new job opportunities and support economic development.
“So ultimately, people have greater ability to live and work in Franklin.”‘
Article taken from: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/113633449/pukekohe-to-undergo-gamechanging-transformation
