John Palino Mayoral Campaign
“There must be a lot wrong with Auckland”
July 2016

John Palino: What do the Panel's recommendations say about you and your community?

"There must be a lot wrong with Auckland if this is the plan," said mayoral candidate John Palino, in reference to the Independent Hearing Panel's Unitary Plan recommendations to the Auckland Council.

"I'm all over the city everyday and I hear that people love their city, they value their community and they want to keep living in their neighborhood.

"But apparently they're wrong. An unelected panel has determined there is so much wrong with Auckland that there isn't really worth anything keeping.

"Heritage - gone. Character - gone. Leafy suburbs - gone. Backyards - gone. Schools with room for kids to run about - gone.

"It seems the only thing the Panel has recommended we keep is congestion.

"Well I'm not afraid to say that I disagree.

"The Unitary Plan is supposed to deliver a better outcome for Auckland. Where is the evidence it does this? There is none.

"I commend the Panel's implicit acknowledgement that the Council has constrained development so badly that we are confronted with both a housing crisis and financial disaster. I am also aware that this is the reason that they have allowed development anywhere and everywhere.

"But our elected representatives must not roll over and allow the worst possible outcome for Auckland. The people of Auckland must not allow their elected representatives to make this decision either.

"We absolutely have options and to say otherwise is patently untrue. Auckland does not need this Unitary Plan.

"Auckland councilors must reject the Panel's urban intensification recommendations because alternate plans will deliver more housing, faster and cheaper and will relieve congestion and cost the council less.

"Urban infill is the most expensive and slowest means of delivering housing. It's why supply is slow, it's why rates are going up and it's why congestion is worsening.

"Removing urban limits is the key to increasing housing supply, quickly and affordably. It allows developers to access large land holdings and achieve economies of scale.

"Zoning land for business provides jobs in new areas, taking pressure off congestion.

"Rolling out infrastructure through paddocks is one-tenth the price of rolling out the same infrastructure in suburban areas. Plus, because housing and infrastructure can be integrated, costs are covered by development levies.

"The Unitary Plan before the Council is the wrong plan for Auckland. Councilors must break the urban limits to allow fast, affordable housing and reject intensification.

"When I'm mayor, I'll lead development with new cities in our north and south, combining jobs and homes, while protecting Auckland's traditional suburban form. I don't see this Unitary Plan delivering that."
Palino said.

ends

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