Feature: Draft Auckland Plan Submission

As this issue of Channel Magazine was being put together, submissions were closing (October 25th) for the draft Auckland Plan. The draft Auckland Plan is the strategy to make Auckland the world’s most liveable city by 2040. It will also plan for an additional one million people and the 400,000 dwellings needed by Auckland to accommodate them. It is accompanied by plans for the region’s economic development, the city centre and the waterfront and over time, the plans will have a major impact on Aucklanders lives, shaping where we will live and work and the transport services we will use.

The draft Auckland Plan sets out a programme of transformational shifts to secure the region’s future as a globally competitive city that retains the qualities, the natural environmental and the diversity that we cherish. City leaders have isolated five areas as being critically important to the city’s success: dramatically accelerating the prospects of children and young people; committing to environmental action and green growth; outstanding public transport within one network; radically improving urban living and the built environment; substantially lifting living standards for all Aucklanders. To cope with the expected population increase, the Auckland Plan proposes a quality, compact city with most new housing created within the current urban limits through higher density living.

Long-time Takapuna resident and business leader Peter Menzies is leading a group of people from what he calls the “North Eastern” parts of Auckland, who have put together a comprehensive submission for the draft Auckland Plan. This submission is titled “North East –A Jewel in Auckland’s Crown” and is available to download here. The North East covers the five northern local board areas of Kaipatiki, Hibiscus and Bays, Upper Harbour, Devonport-Takapuna, and Rodney.

While the group applauds the courageous and bold approach reflected in the draft Plan, they also strongly feel changes are needed for the Auckland Plan to be truly visionary. They are advocating a much bolder approach than has been outlined. Channel Magazine’s Aidan Bennett talked to Peter Menzies about his group’s submission in mid-October.

North East – A Jewel in Auckland’s Crown

AIDAN BENNETT: In your opinion is the Draft Auckland Plan process a good one?

PETER MENZIES: Yes, I think the process is a good one and essential to setting the future direction for Auckland.

AB: There is a concern that the North East of Auckland may be one of the losers from the plan. Is that concern real?

PM: Yes it is. We have read the draft Auckland Plan very carefully and are very concerned that very little attention is given to the North East of Auckland. There is a significant focus in the draft Auckland Plan on the city centre and fringe, the south of Auckland and the north west of Auckland but there is no mention of the significant role that the north east has to play in the future success of Auckland.

AB: What are the good things that Auckland City is advocating in the Plan?

PM: There are a number of things in the draft plan that we feel are good. It is comprehensive in that it looks at the people, the environment, the economy, urban and rural Auckland, issues relating to housing and infrastructure etc. Development of the waterfront and the city centre are important elements in building a strong and successful future for Auckland and we recognize the need for initiatives to strengthen the contribution that the south can make.

AB: You are advocating a “Bolder approach to growth” in your submission. What does this mean?

PM: Our thinking about long term growth for Auckland is that it cannot be accommodated by the “compact city” approach taken by the draft Plan. The danger in that approach is that all the characteristics of successful cities, town centres and suburbs will be lost and it is those characteristics, which are very evident in the North East, which create strong successful communities. Growth is good, it’s what every economy is seeking right now but many people fear it because it is seen as putting pressure on the quality and amenity of centres and suburbs. But if growth is catered for by way of town centres and satellite towns, it need not impact negatively on some of our greatest assets – a beautiful coastal environment with strong healthy successful and proud communities. Taking this approach will require at least a 50 year planning timeframe, removal of the Rural Urban Boundary (RUB) to the north, creation of a ‘spine of growth’ from Auckland to Whangarei and protecting important infrastructure corridors now.

AB: One area you highlight of concern is the approach to improving underperforming areas. What is this concern?

PM: We fully acknowledge the need for initiatives to tackle underperformance, particularly in the south of Auckland as identified in the draft Plan. Our concern is that the magnitude and scale of the problems which result in underperformance are so large that an Auckland Council initiative alone will not be enough to deal with them. They warrant national attention. That is why we advocate in our submission that the Auckland Council works constructively with central government right from the start to shape, scope and resource this initiative.

AB: As a Takapuna resident it must be heartwarming to see it getting priority ($440 million of capital expenditure) over next 20 years?

PM: Yes, it is very heartening. But our issue is that the north east receives no focus in the draft Plan. Maybe its omission is implicit recognition of the significant and important contribution that it makes to Auckland’s success. But, we are not reassured. Once the draft Plan is adopted, it will be the driver of all subsequent planning, prioritization and allocation of resources. The role of the north east needs to be spelt out now, given its rightful place in the big plans for Auckland so that it is ‘not behind the door’ when the Council’s Long Term Plan is being prepared.

AB: Why do you see the North East as a Jewel in Auckland’s Crown?

PM: I think that if you look at the evidence set out in our submission, the answer to that question is clear for all to see. In the brief space available here, the north east makes a very positive contribution to the success of Auckland. Some of the reasons why are:

 Its people are skillful and well connected to each other and their neighbourhoods.
They are healthy and live long productive lives.
They are among the most highly qualified of Aucklanders.
They feel safe and settled, within their own homes and many own their own business.
The north east has many beautiful beaches which attract talented people who are ambitious and want to create successful futures for themselves, their families, their communities and for Auckland as a whole. The north east has been a magnet for immigrants to Auckland.
Between 2000-2009 employment growth was higher in Rodney, Hibiscus and Bays and Upper Harbour than for Auckland as a whole.
Median income is higher than for Auckland as whole.

AB: There has obviously been a great deal of effort gone into this very professional submission. Can you summarise its contents in one paragraph for our readers so they “get” what your group is advocating?

PM: We are advocating for strong investment by the Auckland Council in the north east so that it can continue to grow and flourish. We want to see the north east showcased in the Auckland Plan as a successful model of good growth, a model that can be replicated in the future as Auckland accommodates the growth that it so clearly needs. Using the growth pattern that resulted in this successful north east requires a change to the ‘compact city’ model promoted by the draft plan. People need to have a range of housing types and lifestyles from which to choose and these choices need to be affordable. We are advocating for satellite towns along a ‘spine of growth’ from Auckland to Whangarei, towns that can be developed close to the sea and using the latest urban design approaches in harmony with the environment. Extending the planning timeframe from 30 to 50 years enables important infrastructure corridors along this spine to be protected now. And we think that it is time for an inclusive approach to planning that would see Auckland Council draw on the breadth and depth of real world knowledge and experience held by those who live, do business, raise families and truly have their fingers on the pulse of Auckland.

This submission “North East – A Jewel in Auckland’s Crown” is available to download here.

Peter Menzies - Profile

Peter Menzies is a civil engineer by trade and has an eclectic list of achievements to his name: construction - everything from hydro dams, tunnels and bridges, to multi-storey buildings, shopping centres and industrial property; listing of public companies; past Chairman of numerous companies – from Mainzeal to Mercury Energy to Museum Trust Board - and Director of others – including Aotea Centre and Team New Zealand. Other past appointments include Director of NZ Trade and Enterprise, a Director of ECNZ, Trustee for Team New Zealand and a Trustee of the Tindall Foundation. He is patron of the North Harbour Club & Charitable Trust and is involved with a number of other community groups. Peter and his wife Jane Mary first came to the Shore in 1970. They have six children and 18 grandchildren. As well as being involved and interested in the future of Auckland, Peter spends his time taking care of his family business interests and he also owns thoroughbred horses in partnership, breeding and racing them.