KEY POINTS:
Waimauku township looks set to keep its character of a rural village in green surrounds for 20 years, despite growth pressure on the towns of north-west Auckland.
Rodney District Council has decided that the township's draft structure plan will not bring in any more farm land for housing subdivision. This will divert growth to Helensville and let Waimauku gently fill its present space for housing.
Waimauku will have a longer wait for connection to public sewerage that will unleash development in townships nearer the city - Kumeu, Huapai and Riverhead.
Public feedback favours minimal growth - in 10 years going from 900 to 1300 people.
In the following decade, infill and limited urban expansion on the south-east fringes will allow 2600 people and reticulated sewerage.
"Waimauku stays a reasonably compact settlement located around a public transport/commercial centre node," said Rodney planner Ryan Bradley.
The Auckland Regional Strategy Growth Concept shows urban expansion for the western fringes of Auckland and further out at Helensville and Kumeu-Huapai, focused on a rapid transit corridor.
Waimauku is not among areas earmarked for significant growth.
Survey respondents did not want green surroundings broken by lifestyle blocks.
They strongly opposed the significant urban expansion under Cornerstone's "Waimauku Estate" proposal. Extending urban zoning north-west to Cornerstone's farm would have made Waimauku the largest western town.
Its population would have been boosted to 5800 and the urban area from 110ha to 160ha.
