Decision digest - Auckland Development Committee 10 March 2016

Feedback to central government was a key theme in today’s Auckland Development Committee with submissions on tenancies, resource legislation and urban planning all featuring.

Items 1 – 10 were administrative

Item 11 Council’s submission to the Productivity Commission issues paper – Better Urban Planning
The main purpose of the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into better urban planning is to review New Zealand’s urban planning system and identify the most appropriate system for allocating land use.

Land supply and land use are factors that can influence the housing market. This is particularly important issue in Auckland where our population is growing rapidly and demand for housing is outstripping supply.

Auckland Council worked with Auckland Transport and Watercare (Watercare then presenting its own submission) on the draft submission which has focused on urban planning as a system and highlighting the need for an efficient and effective system. A key theme of the submission is planning for future funding challenges, specifically looking at the sequencing of infrastructure development as housing supply is dependent on infrastructure being in place.
Lastly the submission highlights the need for informed decision making for public engagement and active early engagement.

Item 12 Council’s submission on the Residential Tenancies Act
Auckland Council strongly supports the government’s intent to make rental homes warmer, drier and safer. But thinks government could go further.

In its submission to the Social Services Select Committee on the Residential Tenancies Act Amendment Bill, the council recommended that the government:

• Legislate a wider range of minimum standards.
• Add in random auditing to ensure landlords comply with the regulations.
• Require all insulation meet the current Building Code Standards.
• And extend the Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy homes to June 2019.

Chair of the committee, Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, says, “As living in Auckland becomes more expensive more people are renting. We absolutely support government’s attempts to make rental properties warmer and drier and feel the bill could go even further to reach that goal. Cold and damp homes can have a detrimental effect on people’s health and quality of life. Poor health due to poor housing quality is preventable”.

Item 13 Council’s submission to the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill

The Bill was read for the first time in December 2015, it is proposing amendment to the:

Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA)
Reserves Act 1977
Public Works Act 1981
Conservation Act 1987
Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf Act 2012.

The majority of the Bill is directed towards amendment to the RMA and is the focus of Auckland Council’s submission. Council’s submission is structured around simplification of processes, greater centralised planning control, coordination of central government wider reform programme, the role of iwi and costs.

Item 14 Regional Heritage Grants Programme 2015/16
One of the six regional grant programmes under the Auckland Council Community Grants Policy is the Historic Heritage Grants programme. Today the committee adopted this grant programme framework. The purpose of the Historic Heritage Grants programme is to incentivise best practice, increase understanding of and encourage community involvement in the care of our regionally significant heritage sites and places. The budget allocation for the programme was confirmed as part of the final decision making in the Long-term Plan and the annual funding budget for the programme is $86,981.

Item 15 Takapuna High Level Project Plan – unlocking urban renewal

The committee endorsed the proposal from Panuku Development Auckland to facilitate the redevelopment of selected sites within central Takapuna which have been identified as opportunities to unlock community and commercial value through urban renewal. Takapuna represents a great opportunity as it is a desirable residential location with a popular beach front and a unique lake, and this renewal aims to deliver a more connected and attractive town centre.

Item 16 Northcote Town Centre and Surrounds High Level Project Plan

The committee endorsed the proposal from Panuku to facilitate the redevelopment of selected council sites within the Northcote town centre. The redevelopment aims to improve amenities in the town centre as well as connections between local homes and the centre.

Item 17 Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan revised zoning maps
The committee received the revised zoning maps that reflect the decision made by the Governing Body on 24 February 2016 and noted that the maps will form the council’s position at the Topic 081 Rezoning and Precincts (Geographical Areas) hearing.

The agenda is available on Auckland Council’s website and minutes will be added once confirmed. This meeting was also webcast on the council’s website and items are available on demand.

ENDS

© Scoop Media