Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Auckland’s destiny at stake

Auckland’s destiny at stake – “It’s now up to Aucklanders to make the Unitary Plan work,” says Michael Barnett

“We can either make the hard call to adopt the Unitary Plan recommended by the hearings panel or keep complaining.

To keep on complaining will get Auckland nowhere – we are a city screaming out for more housing, connected infrastructure and action to address transport congestion.

A first review indicates Auckland has been presented with a bold new blueprint that is exactly what is needed for our small, but fast growing international city to realize its potential and get in front of its growth issues.

The hearings panel has clearly understood that Auckland badly needs a single set of rules to manage how Auckland’s housing and infrastructure develops over coming decades. They have come up with a plan written in plain English that also recognizes the critical importance of allowing land for business developments to occur.

Certainly, the plan may need some tweaking. Concerns raised by interest groups over how we ensure heritage, local area character and quality design of houses and open space are important.

We strongly urge Auckland present and future leaders to look at the bigger picture:

Auckland desperately needs a single plan, a single platform of clear rules and regulations to get on top of our big housing, transport and livability issues. As a city that is a third of New Zealand’s population and wealth creation, all of New Zealand needs an Auckland that will grow in a dynamic and positive way.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Auckland Councilors have an unprecedented opportunity to do what’s right for the city – we are at a crossroads in addressing our major issues. Just ask anyone who has tried getting to-or-from Auckland Airport with certainty in recent weeks; ask the growing numbers sleeping in cars; ask people looking for an affordable home. Ask any Aucklander what they most want delivered by our city leaders; it is to fix Auckland’s big issues and manage our growth opportunities effectively and fairly.

It is not that Aucklanders don’t have a great love for their city and value its attractiveness, diversity and outdoor lifestyle. We all do. It’s that they know we must overcome the essential fragility of our housing and infrastructure, and we don’t have much time left to do it. Auckland is at a cross roads – it can either continue down a road of slow decline or take a leap forward.

The Panel members took into account 13,000 submissions, 10,000 pieces of evidence and 249 days of hearings over the past two years.

The next 20 days to the Council decision and the weeks that follow will be a critical time for positioning Auckland to become the best city it can be going forward.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.