21.11.12

Editor, North Shore Times,

Takapuna.

Dear Sir,                                  Letter to the Editor.

So Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse in your ‘Letters’ column is reassuring the anxious, apparently misguided people of Auckland that Density is Good.

She claims that cities world-wide embrace higher density because it creates stronger communities, yet the clear experience is that high density tends to destroy decent living conditions, personal security and “liveability”.

 

There is a strong correlation between gang-controlled neighbourhood crime, and high-density urban environments such as those in New York, Mumbai, Rio, and London housing estates. The gang communities meet Councillor Hulse’s criterion of being strong communities, but in the worst possible way.

Greater density and rapid expansion of the Auckland population will not fulfil the mythical quest for being the ‘world’s most liveable city’ either. That’s the world’s most ludicrous statement.

During my 27 years in local and regional government and many more in residents’ associations, I have only ever heard the overwhelming cry from the community to resist greater density and to protect our hard-won traditional New Zealand residential environment and way of life.

Kaipatiki Board member Grant Gillon, whom Ms Hulse criticises, is certainly reflecting the majority view as I have seen and heard it. I hope communities throughout the region will shout it out to the Auckland Mayor, Deputy and Council.