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Nearly 28,000 pieces of public feedback have been received on Auckland’s Long-term Plan, which closed for consultation on March 28.
Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson said feedback came from a cross-section of Aucklanders representing a wide range of communities.
The Long-term Plan consultation document set out a central proposal that covered topics such as transport, drinking water and stormwater, parks and community, city and local development, environmental management and economic development.
The draft plan’s central proposal included a proposed rates increase for the average value residential property of 7.5 percent in year one (2024-25); 3.5 percent in year two (2025-26) and 8 percent in year three (2026-27). It also presented alternative options to ‘pay more, get more’ or to ‘pay less, get less’ than the central proposal.
Of the individual submissions, 37 percent supported a ‘do less’ approach, 34 percent supported the central proposal and 20 percent favoured ‘do more’. The remainder submitted ‘other’ or didn’t know.
Organisations were 21 percent in favour of ‘do less’, 36 percent supported the central proposal, 24 percent preferred ‘do more’. The remainder submitted ‘other’ or didn’t know.
Feedback from mana whenua and Māori organisations saw one mana whenua organisation in favour of ‘do less’, three supported the central proposal (one mana whenua organisation and two Māori organisations), two mana whenua organisations preferred ‘do more’ and seven submitted ‘other’ (three mana whenua and four Māori organisations).
The pro-forma feedback saw 99 percent in favour of a ‘do less’ approach.
Transport and water were identified as being of highest priority for a ‘do more’ investment. City and local development, and economic and cultural development, attracted higher numbers of ‘do less’ submissions.
The Auckland Future Fund proposal saw 43 percent of individual submitters on this question in favour, along with 37 percent of organisations’ responses being in support.
Public feedback will be considered by Auckland Council’s Governing Body and local boards next month.
The Governing Body will adopt the final plan on June 27.
Wilson says councillors will consider other factors in their decision-making, such as any new information and advice on the advantages, disadvantages and impacts of proposals and options, along with the council’s role in representing communities whose views might not have been expressed through the public consultation process.
The Summary of Feedback and the Summary of Consultation Feedback reports can be read here.
To view the Long-term Plan consultation proposal and all community, local board and interest group feedback, go to akhaveyoursay.nz/ourplan.
