Aligning transport in Auckland gives certainty for investment

Property Council welcomes the Interim Report: Findings and Conclusions, released by the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) as a positive step in providing certainty for transport in Auckland.

Acting Chief Executive, Matt Paterson, says “after years of debate over projects like the City Rail Link and strategic focuses like public transport and road building, it is pleasing to see a unified strategic approach to Auckland’s transport dilemmas.

“It will inspire confidence for the property industry that the horse-trading and jockeying is over. Business needs Government and Auckland Council working together and in unison. This approach will enable the property industry to plan future investments with more confidence.

“We can look back and blame successive Governments and the legacy councils for decades of transport infrastructure and services underinvestment for Auckland’s current transport situation.

“Despite a decade of substantial financial investment, a growing Auckland is caught in a perpetual state of catch-up.”

A situation Mr Paterson believes is akin to being on a hamster wheel. “All we are doing is frantically trying to move, but we aren’t getting anywhere – literally – the data shows transport congestion is getting worse”.

Property Council also welcomes the Government’s recognition that new funding models, such as tolling, are needed.

“Better transport solutions cost money so it is good to see the report recommend new ways to spread the costs to get our city moving and keep it growing.

“The transport dilemmas facing Auckland are acute and multi-dimensional, and require a dynamic approach. We cannot simply focus on transport, we must also maximise land use to its fullest potential.

“The relationship between land use and transport is inseparable, you cannot look at one in isolation. That is why the Unitary Plan must enable development.

“Take our main road arterials on the Auckland Isthmus as an example. We should be removing barriers to building apartment buildings along them, increasing height limits substantially and reducing car parking requirements. These buildings would be located near social amenities and have access to rapid and convenient public transport networks for jobs too.

“Imagine Dominion or Sandringham Roads with high quality apartment buildings utilising forward thinking urban design aesthetics with access to community amenities and jobs via light rail. The same scenario could occur on Great North Road or New North Road with the rapid bus networks.

“But to achieve this, we need a Unitary Plan that is bold, forward thinking and flexible enough to deal with current and future land use in Auckland and that works in concert with the ATAP.

“Government and Auckland Council need to continue working together in a pro-active approach, not just for the property industry, but also for Auckland and New Zealand. “

ENDS

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