The Herald’s article ‘Towns become cities’ (7 March) helps illustrate how a comprehensive plan spelling out the necessary action for Auckland’s growth problems has been ignored for twenty years.
In 1999 the Auckland Regional Growth Forum, consisting of representatives of the ARC and all local authorities in the Auckland region, published a comprehensive report – ‘The Auckland Regional Growth Strategy’.
The purpose of the Growth Strategy was “to ensure growth would be accommodated in a way that met the best interests of the inhabitants of the Auckland region” with sustaining strong, safe and healthy communities, a high quality living environment, appropriate infrastructure, and protection of the coast and natural environment.
The Growth Forum didn’t know then what we know now. That Labour would initiate the amalgamation of Auckland’s 7 major Councils, propose a ‘super city’ and that National and Act would create a ‘super-city’ entity called the Auckland Council and set up several ‘Council-Controlled Organisations’ to administer Auckland’s assets.
This new Council was tasked with producing a monster document called the Unitary Plan, overriding the Resource Management Act that still applies to the rest of NZ. Only in the case of Auckland would all of this be done without consulting residents and ratepayers.
Today it seems as if the Auckland Council and its CCOs have never heard of the Auckland Regional Growth Forum or their report, compiled over many years through democratic co-operation and agreement.
Looking back to when the Growth Forum report was launched, it included a very sensible plan for managing the effects of expected growth, including the housing, infrastructural, cultural, economic, and environmental needs.
The number of additional dwellings to be built through to 2050 was calculated to be at least 200,000. Additionally, there would need to be massive expansion of infrastructure for the rapidly increasing population, including public transport, schools, hospitals, open space, sewage treatment, water supply and community resources.
There was clear recognition (see ‘Herald’ article) that some rural towns should become satellite cities providing better opportunities and high quality living environments. Sensibly, these included towns on existing rail lines, such as Helensville, Wellsford and Huntly being developed into cities of around 100,000 people, largely self-sufficient in employment, services, recreation and other social requirements.
Potentially, ‘distance employment’ through good internet connections and Skype could reduce the need for Auckland-based employees to regularly commute to Auckland.
The Auckland Growth Strategy allowed for most growth to be quality, compact urban environments within the existing metropolitan area, around town centres and major transport routes to create higher density communities. Development outside current urban limits was to be only where environmental, accessibility and community principles could be met .There would be much less emphasis on general infill throughout suburban areas .
The 1999 report noted: “Much of the region’s infrastructure (water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater systems, refuse disposal, transport, power, gas and telecommunication networks) is already reaching design capacity, and needs upgrading to meet higher environmental standards as well as increasing demand. Any future growth will demand major expenditure on infrastructure… Equally important are the social services, networks and facilities that support people and communities…”
The report deemed cultural heritage areas to be central to our identity and help define
our place in history.
Despite the 1999 report, central government has done little to tackle Auckland’s problems seriously.
Initially, Labour made some effort to improve roading and public transport infrastructure, and undertook relatively minor housing initiatives at Hobsonville, Northcote Central, and parts of south Auckland. National, however, has been in denial about a ‘housing crisis’ and has smudged the issue, calling it a ‘supply problem’ and attempting to blame the RMA, the Auckland Council, and returning New Zealanders for the massive housing shortage and spectacular rise in house prices and rentals.
Both Parties have ignored the effects of the tsunami of immigrants and speculators, claiming that immigration boosts the ‘growth’ of the economy and failing to measure the economic, social, and environmental costs of excessive and poorly controlled immigration.
The Unitary Plan ignores or overrides the measures set out in the 1999 Auckland Regional Growth Strategy. It merely goes along with what is probably a directive from National government: accommodate massive population growth for Auckland or else!
Undemocratically, recklessly, and ruinously, the corporatised pretence of local government has been imposed on the people of the Auckland region, and a dictatorial, one-dimensional Unitary Plan has ignored and overridden the sensible, democratic Auckland Regional Growth Strategy.
13.3.17