MEDIA RELEASE

1 July 2004

Action plan for Auckland’s CBD gets green light

A comprehensive action plan for Auckland’s central business district (CBD) has been adopted following extensive consultation.

The plan supports the council’s vision, presented by Auckland’s CBD Into the future strategy, to position the CBD internationally as one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic business and cultural centres. It sets out specific projects proposed by the council.

From the start, the council has talked to CBD residents, businesses, investors and visitors to find out what they think needs to happen to create the CBD of the vision.

The chairperson of Auckland City’s Strategy and Governance committee, Councillor Mark Donnelly, says prior to adopting the action plan the council wanted to ensure it reflected what Aucklanders wanted for their CBD.

Two versions of the action plan have been developed. A detailed, ten-year version, which will be used as an internal working document by the council and its key partners and a focused three-year action plan so that people can see what will be happening straight away.

Mr Donnelly says $103 million of the money required to implement the plan will come directly from the recently introduced targeted CBD rate and the remainder from the general rate pool.

“Thanks to the support of CBD ratepayers we can now get to work transforming the CBD for the benefit of all. The introduction of the targeted rate will ensure the CBD is transformed more extensively and at a much faster rate than could otherwise be achieved through the use of the general rate. It will also allow for the implementation of a number of significant initiatives to occur to support the vision of the strategy such as the development of a retail strategy, more events and street level activity, promotion of the CBD as a premier business location, changes to the regulatory environment and improved urban design.

“Auckland’s CBD plays an important role in supporting both the region’s and country’s economy. Hence its success benefits all Auckland city residents regardless of where they live, work or play,” he says.

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