Agreement on city shaping infrastructure a major milestone for Auckland

Media Statement
28 June 2013

“The Government’s commitment to the three key projects set out in the Auckland Plan is a milestone for integrated strategic planning and will deliver long term certainty for Auckland,” says Stephen Selwood CEO of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development.

“Support for the City Rail Link, an additional Waitemata Harbour crossing and the AMETI East-West Link was supplemented with commitment to several major motorway improvements across the city.

“A CRL will support the Council’s intensification and urban development objectives, while motorway improvements to address pinch-points around the city are essential to the Government’ growth agenda.

“Each of these projects is critical to unlocking Auckland’s economic potential, not only to improve access to employment and services, but also to send a strong global message that Auckland is open for business and a compelling pipeline of projects is coming to market..

“NZCID has been pushing for alignment between central and local government on strategic issues and this was one of the key motivations for a single council and plan.

“What today’s announcement shows is that Auckland governance reform not only improved the strategic focus of the Auckland Council, but also of the Government.

“Through the Auckland Plan, Unitary Plan, Integrated Transport Plan and a number of detailed project investigations, both Government and the Council have projected forward their planning horizons, identified long term issues and have now aligned policy.

“This is a remarkable turnaround from previous years.

“Other regions around the country will be reflecting on today’s developments very closely,” Selwood says.

ENDS

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