1 September 2005

Safety and transport top of the list

Recent research conducted by Auckland City found that Aucklanders place safe communities and efficient transport at the top of their wish list for a better city in the future.

The results, presented at Auckland City’s Urban Strategy and Governance Committee today, form part of the consultation that has been undertaken over the past two years to identify community outcomes, the things that residents feel are important for their well-being.

Survey participants were asked to consider, and rank them in order of priority a wide variety of desirable community outcome statements, from having the right learning opportunities to a beautiful natural environment.

The top three priority areas that the community would like to see in the future are:

- Auckland is safe
- Auckland has real transport choices
- Auckland is interesting and enjoyable.

Auckland City’s Deputy Mayor and chairperson of the Urban Strategy and Governance Committee, Dr Bruce Hucker, said the research confirmed that projects currently underway were based on community priorities.

“We are already working to make things happen in these priority areas. For example, the council sponsors the Safer Auckland City initiative that has been responsible for a number of achievements, including the addition of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles in the District Plan, installation of CCTV cameras in business areas, and the development of burglary reduction projects.

“That said, there are still lots of challenges facing this council. We have introduced four new targeted rates to ring-fence funding for areas that need significant investment. This includes a five per cent targeted rate to accelerate the city’s transport projects,” says Dr Hucker.

The community outcomes, endorsed at today’s committee, have been identified and prioritised through various rounds of public consultation. The recent survey was the last in the process.

Councils are required by law to lead a process to identify community outcomes. The outcomes can then by used by council and other key external partners to co-ordinate resources to deliver what people have said is important for the wellbeing of their community.

“The outcomes have come from the community consultation. They reflect what residents feel are important for their well-being in a variety of areas such as housing, health and the environment.

“Our role has been to facilitate the process of identifying outcomes. We now need to put together a plan of action to outline how we can contribute to achieving them along with other key organisations,” says Dr Hucker.

The actions to help achieve the outcomes will be published next year in the council’s long-term community plan, entitled Focus on the Future 2006 – 2016.

The council must identify community outcomes every six years to meet the requirements of the Local Government Act (2002).

ENDS

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