A strong focus on climate action and the environment are features of the Franklin Local Board 2023 plan, which has now been formally adopted.
Community feedback has been used to shape the plan.
The city’s 21 local boards are required by law to produce a plan every three years, and the plan adopted is the first for the board elected last year.
It sets out the board’s priorities for the remainder of its term:
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Climate action
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Māori outcomes
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Our community
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Our people
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Our environment
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Our places
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Our economy.
Board chair Angela Fulljames says the size of Franklin means settling on a plan involves a level of complexity that is absent for most of the city’s boards.
“We put a subdivision growth lens on our thinking given that we have 13 settlements, 16 villages and three town centres across Franklin to represent, most welcoming varying numbers of new residents, so what is sensible at one place, might not work for another.
“But one area where there has been universal agreement is in a call for the board to continue to play a role in enhancing the environment and tackling climate action.”
She says with communities across Franklin still dealing with the affects of this year’s weather events, residents made it clear the focus should go on those areas.
“We will be working hard to support both urban and rural Franklin communities to contribute to prevention and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, reforestation and uptake of greenspace, healthy functional waterways and the pest-free Auckland initiative.
“These are all areas where Franklin has led the way, just as we are one of the few boards to fund an economic development broker position to work with and attract businesses, but there is much more still to be done.”
Fulljames says climate action goals align with the board’s aspirations for Māori – who put environmental stewardship at the heart of te ao Māori.
“Our plans are always about doing the best we can to support all our people, because they are our communities, but we have committed to a special focus on Māori, young people, and our aged and disabled communities.
“We will continue to work too for improvements for out facilities network, so that our transport, parks, libraries, community halls and recreational facilities meet people’s needs within budget constraints.
“The remainder of our term may well concentrate on seeking delivery on projects within those budget challenges, which will means doing things differently, looking at everything we do, and how we do it.”
The plan is here.
