Media Release
12 November 2015

Aucklanders’ feedback changes timing of greenfield land development

Changes to the timing of greenfield land being made ready for urban development have been accepted in the Future Urban Land Supply Strategy approved by the Auckland Development Committee.

The changes result from public feedback during consultation on future urban zones totalling 11,000 hectares in the north, north-west and south of the region which will provide around 110,000 dwellings.

The strategy covers mainly rural land to be available over three decades for housing and business development, and the bulk infrastructure needed for this development.

Main changes to the sequencing of land are:
Warkworth North East is included in the first half of decade two (2022-2026)
Drury West (called Karaka in the draft strategy) brought forward five years to the first half of decade two (2022-2026)
Opaheke – Drury to be sequenced in first half of decade three (2032-2036), previously 2036-2041
Puhinui, not included in the draft strategy, now included in the first half of decade two (2022-2026) to align with recent planning for the area.

The changes were overseen by a committee hearing panel of Councillors Bill Cashmore, Chris Darby (deputy chair of the Auckland Development Committee), Dick Quax, Penny Webster, and Independent Maori Statutory Board member Glenn Wilcox.

“Well attended ‘Have your say’ events were held last August in Warkworth, Drury, Kumeu, and Dairy Flat with overall strong support for taking a region-wide approach to integrating land use and infrastructure, as intended in the draft strategy,” said Councillor Darby.

“People accept that we have to have infrastructure in place – like roads, water, sewerage, public transport – at an estimated cost of over $17 billion before these rural areas can be developed.

“The strategy aims to ensure that the planning, consenting and construction of this infrastructure is coordinated and funded in line with the sequencing of development in the strategy, so that land is ready to be developed and contributes to Auckland’s housing and employment needs.

“It is also important to understand that this strategy deals with only one part of how we tackle housing supply, alongside Special Housing Areas and looking at alternative ways of funding infrastructure. The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan will also create greater development capacity in the existing urban areas,” said Councillor Darby.

ENDS

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