AUCKLAND FUTURE WELCOMES GOVT INFRASTRUCTURE ANNOUNCEMENT

Auckland Future, the centre right ticket contesting the Auckland Council elections, has welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of a $1 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund to accelerate the supply of new housing.

Auckland Future spokesperson Cr Denise Krum says that Auckland’s Councils have failed over the last several decades to allow for sufficient supply to meet housing demand. “This has been the biggest factor in reducing housing affordability for Aucklanders over the last quarter century. Auckland Council must allow Aucklanders to build up as well as out. We must be realistic about where new housing over the next few years will come from. We must cut red tape and streamline consenting processes for new housing. Development of new housing in the CBD and around transport hubs should not grind to a halt just because we can’t access the funds to build critical infrastructure.

“Auckland has unique challenges over the next few years. Aucklanders need a Council that is committed to looking at new ways to fund our critical new infrastructure without simply passing the bill on to existing ratepayers or burdening future Aucklanders with more debt. We need a fiscally responsible team around Council that is prepared to take on these challenges. The Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund is an important tool for us to achieve this, with the right incentives to help meet the demand for new housing for our growing city,” Cr Krum says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media