Auckland Council is taking a stronger approach to housing developments that are proposed outside areas planned for growth.
The council's Policy, Planning and Development Committee has agreed that developments in unexpected locations will not automatically receive council-funded infrastructure, services or future support from ratepayers.
Mayor Wayne Brown says developments built outside planned growth areas can put pressure on infrastructure and services that were never designed for that level of growth.
"We need to put development in the right places, near good transport links, and not just on any bit of rural land a developer buys," says Brown.
He says the council wants to make sure the costs of growth are not passed on to ratepayers.
"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."
Why is the council changing its approach?
Auckland Council plans for growth many years in advance.
It identifies where new homes and businesses can be built and plans the roads, transport links, water services, community facilities and other infrastructure needed to support them.
However, the council says it is seeing more development proposals in places that were not included in long-term growth and funding plans.
Policy, Planning and Development Committee chair Richard Hills says these developments can create difficult choices for the council.
"When growth happens in places that haven't been planned for, the council may need to find extra funding or redirect money from projects and services that have already been approved," he says.
He says unexpected development can also put pressure on existing communities and make it harder to provide the infrastructure and services Auckland needs.
What is unanticipated development?
Unanticipated development refers to projects that happen in locations, or at a size or time, that have not been accounted for in the council's growth and funding plans.
This can include developments outside identified growth areas or developments that happen before infrastructure has been planned and funded.
Such developments can occur through private plan changes or the government's fast-track process.
The council says most development is anticipated, particularly in existing urban areas, where processes are in place to help ensure infrastructure such as roads, public transport and water services can meet demand.
What happens next?
Under the new approach, the council's starting position will be that unanticipated developments are not entitled to council-funded infrastructure, services or future ratepayer support.
Instead, proposals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The council says it will look at factors such as affordability, costs, risks and potential impacts before deciding what infrastructure, services or support may be provided.
Key facts
What is changing?
- Unanticipated developments will not automatically receive council-funded infrastructure and services.
- Each proposal will be assessed individually.
Why?
- To help ensure growth pays for the infrastructure it requires.
- To reduce pressure on roads, public transport, water networks and other services.
- To help protect funding for projects already planned and prioritised by Aucklanders.
What is unanticipated development?
- Development that occurs outside planned growth areas.
- Development that happens before infrastructure has been planned and funded.
- Development that was not accounted for in council growth and funding plans.