Auckland’s 30-year plan out for public comment

What’s good for Auckland will be good for the region, as well as the rest of New Zealand.

That was one of the messages delivered by a number of speakers at the launch of the Auckland Plan on March 23.

Prime Minster John Key described Auckland as the nation’s “flagship” city, but with a ticking time bomb of infrastructure needs.

“This plan should be about delivering value for money – what Auckland doesn’t need is a series of ad hoc decisions,” he told an audience of about 400.

“What we want is a city that is vibrant and safe, offers job opportunities and has a transport system that works.”

Mayor Len Brown said that as NZ’s only true international city, Auckland must realise its potential and, in particular, become much more the economic powerhouse of the nation – the spearhead that leads NZ’s drive into the global marketplace.

Reserve Bank Board chair Dr Arthur Grimes said although the Auckland region was the most productive in NZ, a large part of the city’s workforce was low skilled.

“Auckland is primarily an importer and a service centre for the rest of NZ,” he said.

“Although it’s important to link-in with Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Auckland means ‘urban’, not ‘rural’.

“If you want a little dairy farm in the country, then go and live in New Plymouth or Wanganui. Auckland needs fast clear decision-making, affordable land, transport that works and a great environment and environs.”

Council envisages the Auckland Plan becoming the blueprint for building the region over the next 30 years. The 220-page discussion document called Auckland Unleashed covers the gamut of issues the city is facing from employment, transport and the environment to cultural diversity, land use and heritage.

In a section on The Big Picture, opportunities identified in the north-western area include:

• an innovation centre for NZ with, for example, information, communication and technology, digital and media knowledge industries in Albany

• a base for Auckland’s marine and film sectors of global scale providing high quality jobs

• becoming a model for new public private partnerships to improve housing supply options and build strong communities

• unique business opportunities leveraging off the beauty of the Waitemata Harbour, the Waitakere Ranges and all of northern rural and coastal Auckland.

Related story: Crunch time for comment on city vision

Consultation Timetable
The plan can be viewed at most libraries and Council offices, and is available online at www.theaucklandplan.govt.nz. Comments must be received by 4pm on May 31.

It is intended that a draft Auckland Plan, which will go through a formal consultation process, will be published in August 2011. Council hopes to adopt the final plan by the end of the year.