Auckland sets standard with green vision for future - WWF

WWF Media statement

A vision for Auckland that acknowledges that people and nature are inseparable has been welcomed by WWF-New Zealand as a bold but much needed move towards making our largest city a model for urban sustainable living.

The draft Auckland Plan has been released for public consultation today and aims to make Auckland the world's most liveable city by 2040.

"The city's leaders have clearly set out their vision for the future, which rightly recognises that the environment needs to be at the heart of plans to forge a sustainable and prosperous Auckland," said WWF's Auckland Marine Matters project co-ordinator Victoria Travers.

“By including targets to protect Auckland¹s native species, the Mayor and Auckland Council have shown they understand that the city operates within an ecosystem and that the health of Aucklanders cannot be isolated from the health of their environment.”

The plan calls for higher density urban living, zero waste to landfill by 2040, a 15% reduction in per capita water use by 2025, and a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2031.

Correcting Auckland's transport woes is a high priority and the plan calls for a "transformational shift to non-car trips". WWF supports the plan¹s focus on managing Auckland's transport as a single integrated system concentrated on public transport, including a more rapid, reliable, extended urban rail network, and improved pedestrian and cycle access.

The degraded state of Auckland's marine ecosystem has been acknowledged in the plan with the need to expand the protection for all marine life, including the critically endangered Maui¹s dolphin, highlighted as an example.

"The health of the marine environment is also vitally important to people and their livelihoods. The proposal to create integrated marine spatial plans for the Hauraki Gulf, Kaipara Harbour and Manukau Harbour is exactly what is needed to ensure the sustainable management of these ecosystems. We now look forward to the detailed road map of how these targets will be achieved."

WWF encourages all Aucklanders to make their views heard to help secure the sustainable future that will benefit everyone. The plan is out for public consultation until October 25th.

WWF Media statement - ­ 20 September 2011