Following significant levels of public interest, Auckland Council has adopted the Auckland Plan 2050.

The plan sets the direction for Auckland’s growth and development over the next 30 years, responding to the key opportunities and challenges faced by Auckland.

More than 18,700 written submissions were received on the draft Auckland Plan 2050, and more than 5000 people attended feedback events during the formal consultation in March.

“The level of interest in the Auckland Plan shows how deeply engaged Aucklanders are when it comes to the future of their city,” says Planning Committee Chair, Councillor Chris Darby.

“The Auckland Plan 2050 focuses on the critical issues that we and our children will have to deal with over the next 30 years – the unprecedented pace of population growth, how housing and infrastructure needs are met, ensuring that our prosperity is shared among all Aucklanders, and dealing with the increasing pressures on our stunning environment, not least being climate change.

"Community feedback and ongoing discussions with central government helped inform the final plan, ensuring the Auckland Plan 2050 provides a robust framework for our approach to a somewhat uncertain future.”

The first Auckland Plan was adopted in 2012 with a commitment to review it after six years.

“Since the first plan, we’ve seen significant change in Auckland. It’s vital that our refreshed plan reflects these changes, keeping up to pace with the lives of Aucklanders now, and anticipating the challenges of the coming decades,” said Cr Darby.

Early engagement identified better housing, reinventing transport and a healthy natural environment as the fundamental issues for Auckland’s future.

Feedback in March has led to the development of a new ‘quality of life’ focus area and changes in the timing and number of areas for development. Transport outcomes now reflect the 2018 update of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), a partnership between central government agencies and the council.

Next steps
“The confirmation of the Auckland Plan 2050 and the 10-year Budget 2018-2028 is the culmination of eight years of integrated planning for Auckland’s future. Auckland Council is the only regional authority to undertake planning on such a detailed and long-range scale,” said Cr Darby.

“The work isn’t over. An implementation framework will follow later this year, along with a set of targets and priorities. This enables us to move into a massive ‘build-it decade.”

Using a new, digital-first approach, the Auckland Plan 2050 will be website-based, available by August 2018.

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