Auckland Council is taking a stand against unanticipated development. Today’s Policy, Planning and Development Committee agreed that new housing developments outside of planned growth areas will not be automatically entitled to infrastructure and services.
Mayor of Auckland, Wayne Brown, says unanticipated development presents major risks for our city, and Auckland Council isn’t going to stand by without protecting Aucklanders’ interests.
“This kind of development places significant strain on infrastructure networks in places where growth was never planned.
“We need to put development in the right places - near good transport links - and not just on any bit of dirt in rural areas that a developer buys.
“I’m also clear that growth needs to pay for growth and council will be making all possible efforts to ensure ratepayers don’t subsidise developers.
“I welcome decisions today supported by councillors, including me, to strengthen council’s response to unanticipated development,” he says.
Councillor Richard Hills is chair of Auckland Council’s Policy, Planning and Development Committee. He says the council supports growth and more housing choices, but development outside planned growth areas creates significant challenges for the council and communities.
“Auckland Council plans for growth decades in advance. We identify where homes and businesses can be built and coordinate the infrastructure, transport networks, community facilities and services needed to support them. This ensures growth happens in a way that is affordable, connected and sustainable.
“Despite the council clearly enabling sufficient land for growth, developments are increasingly being proposed outside of these areas – where there is no infrastructure, no commitment from the developer to fund infrastructure, and no provision for infrastructure in council budgets for decades to come.
“This leaves the council with a difficult choice – find additional funding, or redirect funding from existing projects and services to cover the costs of roads, pipes, parks and community facilities these unanticipated developments need.
“Developments that we haven’t had an opportunity to plan for place pressure on existing communities and make it harder to deliver the infrastructure and services Auckland needs, with the threat of rates capping coming this will give us even fewer choices to fund infrastructure and services. Aucklanders are clear they want the council to act on this,” he says.
What is unanticipated development?
Unanticipated developments are developments that happen in locations, or at a size and timing, that has not been anticipated through the council’s funding or growth plans. This includes developments outside of the areas that have been identified for growth or in areas identified for growth before infrastructure is planned and funded. It can happen through private plan changes or the government’s fast-track programme.
Most developments are anticipated, particularly those in existing urban areas. They often require resource consent which allows the council to ensure infrastructure such as roads, public transport and water can cope with the demand. The council often works with other infrastructure providers such as Watercare to ensure any impacts are addressed.
What is the council doing about it?
The council will take a default position that unanticipated developments will not be entitled to infrastructure, services and funding provided by the council, or future ratepayer support.
It will consider each proposal on a case-by-case basis, and decide what infrastructure, services and support will be provided, taking into account affordability, costs, consequences and risks.
Why does the council need to do this?
The strengthened approach aims to ensure growth helps pay for the infrastructure it requires. When development happens in locations that were not planned for, it can create pressure on roads, public transport, water networks and other services.
This can cause additional costs for ratepayers and may require funding to be diverted from projects that have already been consulted on and approved through council planning processes. This new approach helps protect funding for projects Aucklanders have already prioritised and helps prevent costs being passed on to existing communities.