Growth – Is growth inevitable?

Growth is not inevitable. Communities grow or decline depending on what choices people make about where they are able to live.

The Warkworth-Mahurangi district is a very desirable area for people to live, work and play. It has an attractive natural (coastal and rural) environment, good roading links both south and north, existing opportunities for employment, attractive locations for a variety of housing options around Warkworth town and the smaller rural and coastal settlements, and a characterful town centre with development potential that needs to be realised for it to remain attractive for locals and visitors.
In areas like Rodney, private investment is largely in subdivisions and commercial retail. It is essential to maintain shared public assets – roads and transport, utilities, schools, health services, recreational facilities, community facilities and natural features.

Funding solely by existing residents will reduce quality of these assets and the district loses its appeal. Costs must be more equitable. The Mahurangi Community Planning Group (MCPG) estimates the full public cost of each additional dwelling at about $200,000. If newcomers meet the true cost of the services and amenities they use, their quality of life is preserved. Growth stabilises at a level that people judge is worth paying for. Sustainability requires that both today’s residents and tomorrow’s arrivals contribute to maintaining the amenity they value.

With the Government back down on overall housing numbers required, questions are being asked how such growth can be appropriately accommodated, and whether demand is as strong as predicted. It is important for Warkworth that growth is only permitted in areas that can sustainably accommodate intensification, and that new development should retain the character of the town and district.

While population may have doubled in the last 30 years, will it grow at a similar rate as to warrant so many new housing units being built over the next 30 years? Will the demand from new population cohorts be for family housing or inner city apartments?

Whatever is planned for housing areas, the infrastructure (utilities, roading and facilities) needs to have sufficient capacity to accommodate them, meaning they will need to be implemented well in advance.

There will be long time lags before such systems and facilities will be in place. Well-designed Spatial Plans will be needed at both the regional and local level to provide detailed guidance for new development.

After discussions with the Rodney Local Board chair about lack of action by Auckland Council, MCPG will meet council planners responsible for the Warkworth district. Further to this, the council has created the Auckland Urban Development Office (AUDO) to coordinate urban development (infrastructure and land use development). MCPG is very anxious to meet its planning team, as we understand that it has already started work on a Warkworth District development strategy. AUDO has thus recognised this district is a top priority, given the disparity between development plans underway and the lack of infrastructure in place to meet the new demands. Watch this space for progress!