Planning underway for Flat Bush stage two

Work is now underway on detailed plans for the second stage of Flat Bush – New Zealand’s largest new town.

A draft masterplan is now being developed for approximately 440 hectares of Flat Bush, covering an area south of Flat Bush School Road and east of Murphys Road, as well as vacant land around Barry Curtis Park.

Manukau City Council City Form and Environment Portfolio Leader Sharon Stewart says the masterplan will help get the basics right before development begins in the Flat Bush stage two area.

“The masterplan will help make sure Flat Bush works well for the people living there. It will look at how all the elements of an area, for example streets, footpaths, open spaces and buildings, work well together for the people who use them daily.

“The masterplan will be a key part of the district plan change process. In March or April next year the council will be asking for public feedback on the draft masterplan and associated draft plan change 20.

“In the meantime the council will be keeping people updated on progress through Manukau Matters, our website and a Flat Bush email newsletter,” Cr Stewart says.

The planning process for Flat Bush stage two aims to ensure that:

· Flat Bush develops a strong sense of identity
· The unique characteristics of the area and its environments are enhanced
· There are identifiable neighbourhoods
· The use of public transport, walking and cycling is made easier
· Public spaces are of a high quality
· Important views are recognised, maintained and incorporated into the new development.

Find out more at www.manukau.govt.nz/flatbush, by following us on twitter www.twitter.com/manukau or sign up to the Flat Bush email newsletter by emailing communications@manukau.govt.nz with Flat Bush in the subject line.

About Flat Bush
Flat Bush is New Zealand’s largest and most comprehensively planned new town, taking shape on 1700 hectares in the south east of Manukau. It will be home to at least 40,000 people by 2020, a similar population to Nelson.

Not just another collection of subdivisions, Flat Bush will have a strong focus on people and the environment, large amounts of open space and high urban design standards.

While most of Flat Bush is being developed by the private sector, Manukau City Council is playing a strong role in planning and creating the town.

The new town has a unique focus on environmental sustainability, for example natural waterways and gullies are being retained to create a 45km green network throughout Flat Bush. As well as providing a slice of nature only five minutes walk from most households, they are also important in managing stormwater and providing for wildlife and native bush.

The heart and soul of Flat Bush, a new 20 hectare town centre, will be integrated with the new 94 hectare Barry Curtis Park, and built around a traditional main street concept. It will have a wide diversity of shops, cafes, offices, community facilities and apartments, bringing vitality, interest and character.

Council company Tomorrow’s Manukau Properties Limited (TMPL) owns the town centre land and has an agreement with Melview Developments to complete the town centre design and develop it.

Flat Bush will also have five smaller neighbourhood centres and a mixture of housing densities. Seven new state schools will be built, as well as the Baverstock Oaks primary school which opened in 2005.

One of the major features of Flat Bush will be Barry Curtis Park which has been designed to create 'a regionally significant park that reflects the people and cultures of Manukau.'

The council’s work on Flat Bush won the Gold award for Environmentally Sustainable Project at the 2007 International Awards for Liveable Communities.