Media Release
Monday, 29 October 2012
Cr Dick Quax Welcomes Government Moves to Make Housing Affordable

Councillor Dick Quax has welcomed the Government’s response to the Productivity Commission’s report into affordable housing.

“I note that the Government has identified four key aims to try with the number one aim being to increase the supply of land and I welcome that move in particular as the Commission confirmed that council’s strict regulation of the supply of land available for residential housing has a major impact on affordability especially in Auckland,” Cr Quax says.

“Greenfields expansion will provide the biggest boost to housing affordability but the other aims, reducing delays and costs of the Resource Management Act, providing timely provision of infrastructure to support new housing and improving productivity in the construction sector will all help.”

Cr Quax says that the housing market in Auckland is in a crisis and unless more houses are built housing ownership in Auckland will continue to drop.

“The kiwi dream of owning a home is moving further and further out of reach for most young Aucklanders even those on an above average income.”

“We will not be the world’s most liveable city while the cost of housing is beyond the reach of ordinary Aucklanders”.

“The Auckland housing problem is not well understood, says Cr Quax, and many myths abound such as Auckland being a sprawling metropolis when in fact Auckland is the second most densely populated city in either New Zealand or Australia. Auckland’s urban footprint for example has just over 2,300 people per square kilometre while Sydney has 2,500 per square kilometre. Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane all have less than 1,600 people per square kilometre.”

Ends

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