19 April 2005

City plans get animated

The Mayor of Auckland City, Dick Hubbard, is not only lending his ears to listen to what Aucklanders have to say on the city council’s draft annual plan released this week.

His voice will be heard in shopping malls around the city via a short, animated presentation summarising where the new council will be putting its focus in the year ahead.

“The Auckland City Council wants all Aucklanders to understand our action plan as it affects anyone who lives, works or visits our city.

“Rapid growth means the next few years are full of opportunities for Auckland City. To make the most of them, our draft annual plan says we need to put the pedal down hard to accelerate key projects in the city.

“The city needs to get moving, sooner rather than later, so we have looked at transport priorities that can ensure a smooth ride around the city. The way the city looks is as important to the council as it is to Aucklanders, so we want to put resources into better managing the look and character of the city. We also know that the past is just as important as the future so we are looking at ways to preserve our unique buildings and volcanic cones,” says Mr Hubbard.

Councillor Vern Walsh, chairperson of Auckland City’s Finance and Corporate Business Committee says the council’s draft annual plan is fair and realistic.

“The city’s future depends on the action we take today. We believe rates need to go up by 9.7 per cent next year and we’ve made promises about where it will be spent,” he says.

The draft annual plan is available for public consultation for one month from Wednesday 20 April to 5pm, Friday 20 May. The plans and submission forms are available: online at www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/annualplan, which can be accessed free of charge at all Auckland City libraries inside the draft annual plan summary, inserted in the 24 April edition of City Scene, being delivered to all Auckland homes at all Auckland City libraries and service centres. “We’ve tried to make it even easier for the public to get the plan and tell us what they think of it,” says Mr Walsh. “The animated presentation voiced by the mayor will be touring shopping malls for a month and we hope to distribute the easy to understand summaries of the council’s plans to many thousands of shoppers.

“Community meetings will also be held for the public to hear more detail about the plans and to ask questions of councillors and staff,” he says.

Verbal submissions can be made from 7 – 10 June. All submissions will be carefully considered by the council. They will be analysed by councillors at a meeting on 23 and 24 June, where the final decisions about the plan for the year ahead will be made. The final annual plan for 2005/2006 will be published on 22 July.

ENDS