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The fairer funding model to address Auckland’s growing infrastructure inequity needs be rolled out as soon as possible, Rodney Local Board (RLB) said at Auckland Council’s budget committee workshop on November 27.
Board chair Brent Bailey said at present, when people built things out of sequence it created issues around infrastructure, public transport, and where the secondary schools were, and there were no consequences.
“We have got to penalise out of sequence growth,” Bailey said.
He told councillors that the unsealed road improvement programme, which was entirely funded through Council, was “crucial” for the local board.
“I know that creates a problem of ‘where’s the money going to come from’,” Bailey said before pointing to central government for passing costs on to the council.
“The council is broke. We need to change some stuff and I am open to any idea that will improve our ability to make the most of the limited funds we have available.”
Councillor Greg Sayers asked if Bailey had any ideas on how Council could address the issue of rejected plan changes being overturned in court.
“If somebody puts in a private plan change and it’s rejected by Council, they can go to the Environment Court and it seems frequently that objections from Watercare or Council are overturned by those commissioners,” Sayers said.
Bailey said reiterated that out-of-sequence development should be avoided but did not have a an answer to Sayers’ question.
“When we do out-of-sequence development it comes at some cost to the amenity of residents.”
