Plan identifies Warkworth’s potential

Warkworth is expected to be identified as a rural satellite town in the draft Auckland Plan which will be released for public submissions on September 20.

The Auckland Plan, also referred to as the spatial plan, is a broad-based 30-year strategy that will support Mayor Len Brown’s vision for Auckland to become the world’s most liveable city.

It will identify how different parts of Auckland will grow and develop, and when this might occur.

A Council spokesperson says Warkworth is down as a rural satellite town along with Helensville, Pukekohe, Waiuku and Kumeu. The plan also identifies eight sub-regional centres, now referred to as metropolitan centres – Manukau, Takapuna, Newmarket, New Lynn, Sylvia Park, Papakura, Albany and Westgate.

Warkworth and Pukekohe will be prioritised for growth over the first three years of the Auckland Plan’s life in terms of further planning to gain clarity over where development will happen in the future.

“This will provide certainty of where major public investment will occur so that the market can respond,” the spokesperson said.

The draft plan will contain high-level maps of where growth will occur, rather than the finer detail to street level. The more detailed maps will require further investigation and consultation.

Indicative funding requirements for projects are included in the plan.

Rural areas in the north will be subject to further detailed planning through the Unitary Plan and the Long Term Plan. The draft plan identifies areas for country living, rural production and limited growth in coastal areas, but emphasises protection of rural amenity and production while allowing growth and change in specified areas.

The Auckland Plan will guide the services, projects and programmes of Auckland Council, its Council Controlled Organisations, central government and the private sector.

The plan will identify a number of initiatives and projects for implementation but detail on how Council proposes to fund these projects will be included in the Long-Term Plan, which will be released for consultation next year.

Council says a range of funding sources will be considered for projects including central government funding, public-private partnerships, development contributions and alternative funding sources to minimise the impact on rates.

The draft plan takes into account feedback from the Auckland Unleashed discussion document, which received 8000 submissions earlier this year.

Council will finalise the Auckland Plan in December and it will be adopted next February.

Submissions on the current draft plan close on October 25.

Related Link: Draft Auckland Plan

Published 12 September 2011