Agenda of Planning Committee

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Responsibilities

This committee guides the physical development and growth of Auckland through a focus on land use planning, housing and the appropriate provision of infrastructure and strategic projects associated with these activities. Key responsibilities include:

· Relevant regional strategy and policy

· Infrastructure strategy and policy

· Unitary Plan

· Spatial plans

· Plan changes to operative plans

· Housing policy and projects

· Special Housing Areas

· City centre development

· Tamaki regeneration

· Built heritage

· Urban design

· Environmental matters relating to the committee’s responsibilities

· Acquisition of property relating to the committee’s responsibilities and within approved annual budgets

Activities of the following Council Controlled Organisations:

o Panuku Development Auckland

o Auckland Transport

o Watercare Services Limited

Powers

(i) All powers necessary to perform the committee’s responsibilities, including:

(a) approval of a submission to an external body

(b) establishment of working parties or steering groups.

(ii) The committee has the powers to perform the responsibilities of another committee, where it is necessary to make a decision prior to the next meeting of that other committee.

(iii) The committee does not have:

(a) the power to establish subcommittees

(b) powers that the Governing Body cannot delegate or has retained to itself (section 2).

Exclusion of the public – who needs to leave the meeting

Members of the public

All members of the public must leave the meeting when the public are excluded unless a resolution is passed permitting a person to remain because their knowledge will assist the meeting.

Those who are not members of the public

General principles

· Access to confidential information is managed on a “need to know” basis where access to the information is required in order for a person to perform their role.

· Those who are not members of the meeting (see list below) must leave unless it is necessary for them to remain and hear the debate in order to perform their role.

· Those who need to be present for one confidential item can remain only for that item and must leave the room for any other confidential items.

· In any case of doubt, the ruling of the chairperson is final.

Members of the meeting

· The members of the meeting remain (all Governing Body members if the meeting is a Governing Body meeting; all members of the committee if the meeting is a committee meeting).

· However, standing orders require that a councillor who has a pecuniary conflict of interest leave the room.

· All councillors have the right to attend any meeting of a committee and councillors who are not members of a committee may remain, subject to any limitations in standing orders.

Independent Māori Statutory Board

· Members of the Independent Māori Statutory Board who are appointed members of the committee remain.

· Independent Māori Statutory Board members and staff remain if this is necessary in order for them to perform their role.

Staff

· All staff supporting the meeting (administrative, senior management) remain.

· Other staff who need to because of their role may remain.

Local Board members

· Local Board members who need to hear the matter being discussed in order to perform their role may remain. This will usually be if the matter affects, or is relevant to, a particular Local Board area.

Council Controlled Organisations

· Representatives of a Council Controlled Organisation can remain only if required to for discussion of a matter relevant to the Council Controlled Organisation.

1 Apologies

An apology from Cr C Casey has been received.

2 Declaration of Interest

Members are reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision making when a conflict arises between their role as a member and any private or other external interest they might have.

3 Confirmation of Minutes

That the Planning Committee:

a) confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Tuesday, 7 February 2017, including the confidential section, as a true and correct record.

4 Petitions

At the close of the agenda no requests to present petitions had been received.

5 Public Input

Standing Order 7.7 provides for Public Input. Applications to speak must be made to the Democracy Advisor, in writing, no later than one (1) clear working day prior to the meeting and must include the subject matter. The meeting Chairperson has the discretion to decline any application that does not meet the requirements of Standing Orders. A maximum of thirty (30) minutes is allocated to the period for public input with five (5) minutes speaking time for each speaker.

5.1 Public input - Ben Ross - Auckland's boom, the pressures facing Southern Auckland

Purpose

1. Ben Ross will address the committee regarding Auckland’s boom, the pressures facing Southern Auckland. The subject matter covers the upcoming Auckland Plan refresh, the Auckland Unitary Plan (Operative in Part), the population and business growth in the south accelerating and the pressures that it is creating, both to the urban fabric and the transport network.

Recommendation/s

That the Planning Committee:

a) receive the presentation from Ben Ross regarding Auckland’s boom, the pressures facing Southern Auckland and thank him for his attendance.

6 Local Board Input

Standing Order 6.2 provides for Local Board Input. The Chairperson (or nominee of that Chairperson) is entitled to speak for up to five (5) minutes during this time. The Chairperson of the Local Board (or nominee of that Chairperson) shall wherever practical, give one (1) day’s notice of their wish to speak. The meeting Chairperson has the discretion to decline any application that does not meet the requirements of Standing Orders.

This right is in addition to the right under Standing Order 6.1 to speak to matters on the agenda.

6.1 Local Board Input - Izzy Fordham, Chair Great Barrier Local Board - Aotea Great Barrier Island Dark Sky Sanctuary Accreditation

Purpose

1. Great Barrier Local Board Chair Izzy Fordham, accompanied by Richard Somerville-Ryan, Great Barrier Island Astronomers Group, will address the committee regarding Great Barrier Island Dark Sky Sanctuary Accreditation.

Recommendation/s

That the Planning Committee:

a) receive the presentation from Great Barrier Local Board Chair Izzy Fordham, and Richard Somerville-Ryan, Great Barrier Island Astronomers Group, regarding Great Barrier Island Dark Sky Sanctuary Accreditation and thank them for their attendance.

7 Extraordinary Business

Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with at that meeting if-

(a) The local authority by resolution so decides; and

(b) The presiding member explains at the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public,-

(i) The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and

(ii) The reason why the discussion of the item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.”

Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,-

(a) That item may be discussed at that meeting if-

(i) That item is a minor matter relating to the general business of the local authority; and

(ii) the presiding member explains at the beginning of the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the item will be discussed at the meeting; but

(b) no resolution, decision or recommendation may be made in respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent meeting of the local authority for further discussion.”

8 Notices of Motion

At the close of the agenda no requests for notices of motion had been received.

Planning Committee

07 March 2017

Future Urban Land Supply Strategy Refresh

File No.: CP2017/01951

Purpose

1. To seek approval to the proposed changes to the sequencing of future urban land in the Future Urban Land Supply Strategy (the Strategy) as part of the refresh of this strategy, and to seek approval to undertake a public engagement process on these changes.

Executive summary

2. The Auckland Plan anticipates that Auckland will grow by approximately 1 million more people, and need around 400,000 new homes, by 2041. The Auckland Plan Development Strategy identifies that around 30 per cent of this growth will be accommodated in “greenfields” (currently rural areas that will be urbanised in the future).

3. In conjunction with the development of the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, the council adopted the Future Urban Land Supply Strategy (the Strategy) in November 2015.

4. This Strategy provides a 30-year programme to sequence greenfield land zoned future urban under the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (Attachment I). As it would be prohibitively expensive to invest in all future urban areas concurrently, providing a sequence of when these areas would be development-ready ensured infrastructure costs were distributed over the 30 years. It also provides a strategic and proactive approach to ensure that there is an ongoing supply of greenfield land that is ready for urban development. This is primarily achieved through synchronising the timing of live zoning with the provision of the enabling bulk infrastructure and underpinning structure planning. This provides greater clarity and certainty to land owners, iwi, developers, infrastructure providers and council about when future urban land would be ready for development.

5. The decision version of the Unitary Plan (adopted in August 2016) resulted in significant changes such as increasing the size of some of the future urban zones as well as live zoning parts of others. Significant changes have also been made to the zoning of rural settlements. Cumulatively, these changes mean that approximately 15,000 hectares of land has now been zoned for future urban development up from 11,000 hectares of land in November 2015. These changes have an impact on the sequencing and timing of development identified in the Strategy and the resulting provision of bulk infrastructure to these areas. It is therefore necessary to refresh the Strategy to ensure it reflects development opportunities that now exist through the Unitary Plan, work such as the Supporting Growth project and the ability to service respective areas with bulk infrastructure.

6. A review of the Strategy was signalled at the time of its adoption in November 2015 as it was anticipated there could be changes to the future urban zones through decisions on the Unitary Plan.

7. The key change proposed to the Strategy is to the sequencing of future urban areas. Some areas are proposed to be moved forward in the sequencing mainly due to their Unitary Plan live zoning. Subsequently, and due to infrastructure and funding constraints, some future urban areas are proposed to be put back.

8. Other changes to the Strategy are the inclusion of Rural Settlements in the sequencing, and the ability to now identify a more nuanced approach to sequencing.

9. The process to amend the Strategy will include a public engagement phase where feedback on the proposed sequencing will be invited from land owners, iwi, developers, key stakeholders, local boards and the general public. It is recommended that a deliberations panel be established to consider feedback and make recommendations to the Planning Committee before formal adoption. This process was used for the previous feedback consideration and worked well.

10. The Strategy sets a programme for structure planning. The next priority for council-led structure planning to be signalled in the Strategy is in the South for the Drury/Opaheke, Drury West, Pukekohe and Paerata future urban areas.

Recommendation/s

That the Planning Committee:

a) approve the proposed changes to the Future Urban Land Supply Strategy as summarised in Tables 1 and 2 of the agenda report for public engagement.

b) approve a targeted public engagement process for the Future Urban Land Supply Strategy Refresh which focuses on existing stakeholders and interested parties and runs from 29 March 2017 to 18 April 2017.

c) establish a deliberations panel consisting of up to six elected members, including a member of the Independent Māori Statutory Board, to consider the engagement feedback and make recommendations to the Planning Committee.

d) delegate to the chairperson of the Planning Committee the power to make additional or replacement appointments to the deliberations panel if required.

Comments

Background

11. The Auckland Plan (2012) anticipates that Auckland will grow by approximately 1 million more people, and need around 400,000 new homes, by 2041. The majority of this growth will be accommodated in existing urban areas (brownfields) with some growth in greenfields (currently rural areas that will be urbanised in the future) and rural areas. The Auckland Plan further directs that an average of seven years unconstrained “ready to go” land will be supplied along with 20 years of forward land supply.

12. The Auckland Plan identified ‘greenfield areas for investigation’ to provide for future growth outside the existing urban area. It was anticipated that these areas would accommodate approximately 90,000 dwellings and provide 1,400 hectares of business land.

13. Since the adoption of the Auckland Plan, the council and wider council family have been refining their technical understanding of these areas to better understand constraints, opportunities, infrastructure requirements and costs, which will help ensure that the future urban land is rezoned in a timely and effective manner.

14. During the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan hearings process, the Independent Hearings Panel requested further information to understand how the council will manage the planning and development of future urban land. The Future Urban Land Supply Strategy was therefore developed and subsequently adopted in November 2015, prior to the finalisation of the Unitary Plan. It formed part of the council’s overall integrated planning approach which includes the use of the Rural Urban Boundary and future urban zones. A copy of the current strategy is included as Attachment I.

15. The purpose of the Strategy was to provide a strategic and proactive 30-year sequence for when the 11,000 hectares of future urban land identified under the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan is proposed to be ready for urban development. This enabled coordination of timely structure planning, live zoning and bulk infrastructure provision to these areas and provided clarity and certainty to all key stakeholders, including infrastructure providers. The future urban areas are predominantly rural and have not been previously identified for urbanisation. The required bulk infrastructure will therefore have to be planned and provided prior to their development.

16. The current Strategy identified future urban land in the following locations:

a. North: Warkworth, Wainui and Silverdale-Dairy Flat

b. North-west: Whenuapai, Red Hills, Kumeu-Huapai and Riverhead

c. South: Puhinui, Takanini, Hingaia, Opaheke-Drury, Drury West, Paerata and Pukekohe.

17. It leveraged off legacy planning and Special Housing Areas (SHAs) for the first 5-10 years. In the following years, the Strategy transitioned to a more proactive approach that aimed to ensure that the necessary underpinning network infrastructure will be available at the time of future live zoning.

18. A set of principles, to underpin sequencing decisions, was established as part of the development of the Strategy. These principles assisted with understanding which areas would achieve the greatest benefits for Auckland over the short, medium and long-term timeframes of the Strategy. Further detail of the process used to develop the sequencing is included in Attachment G.

19. Structure planning and associated plan changes to create live zonings were to be done prior to the future urban zones being ready for development and would be undertaken by the council (or in partnership with others) in line with the sequencing outlined in the Strategy. Structure planning would be the stage of the process where local boards, mana whenua and communities would be most heavily involved in the planning of these areas.

Refresh of the Future Urban Land Supply Strategy

20. The decision version of the Unitary Plan (August 2016) resulted in significant changes, such as increasing the size of some of the future urban zones as well as live zoning parts of others. Some significant changes have also been made to the zoning of the rural settlements. Attachment A includes a map of the future urban areas Unitary Plan zoning changes. These changes have an impact on the sequencing and timing of development identified in the current Strategy and the resulting provision of bulk infrastructure to these areas. It is therefore necessary to refresh the Strategy to ensure it reflects development opportunities that now exist through the Unitary Plan and the new realities of network infrastructure provision. A review was signalled at the time of the Strategy’s adoption in November 2015 as it was anticipated there could be changes to the future urban zones through the decisions to the Unitary Plan.

21. The refresh also presents an opportunity to align the Strategy with recent technical work completed during the Supporting Growth project (formerly known as Transport for Future Urban Growth), which developed a transport network plan to support development in the future urban areas.

Proposed changes to the Future Urban Land Supply Strategy

22. The key changes proposed to the Strategy are in terms of the sequencing of future urban areas. Some areas are proposed to be moved forward in the sequence, mainly due to live zoning through the Unitary Plan decisions. In addition, confirmation of key infrastructure such as the Puhoi to Warkworth section of the Road of National Significance and further planning of waste water solutions have impacted on the timeframes for when land could be ready for development. As a consequence, and also due to greater infrastructure constraints, some future urban areas are proposed to be put back as it would be prohibitively expensive to invest in all future urban areas at the same time.

23. The proposed changes to the sequencing of the large areas of future urban land as follows:

a. future urban areas recommended to be brought forward in terms of their sequencing are:

· Warkworth North

· Wainui East

· Silverdale (business)

· Red Hills

· Puhinui (business)

· Wesley (Paerata)

· Opaheke Drury

· Drury South

b. future urban areas recommended to be put back in terms of their sequencing are:

· Kumeu Huapai Riverhead

· Whenuapai Stage 2

· Drury West Stage 2

· Puhinui (business)

· Red Hills North

· Warkworth North East

· Takanini.

24. The Unitary Plan decisions also rezoned a significant amount of land for future urban development in rural settlements. Future urban land in these settlements totals approximately 1,700 hectares, which makes up approximately 11 per cent of the total 15,000 hectares of greenfield land zoned for urban development. For this reason, it is now considered necessary to also apply sequencing to these areas to signal development readiness. It is therefore proposed to include rural settlements in the refreshed Strategy. Table 2 identifies the proposed sequencing of Rural Settlements and Attachment D includes a sequencing map of the Rural Settlements.

25. The sequencing takes a more nuanced approach compared to the current strategy. However, it needs to be noted that structure planning (discussed in paragraph 29) will likely further refine sequencing through proposing a staged development for some of the larger future urban zones.

26. Minor changes are proposed to the text of the Strategy for the purposes of clarification. For example, clarifying how the sequence timing works in relation to the structure planning and plan change process as well as describing what is involved in the structure planning process.

27. Tables 1 and 2 show the proposed sequencing for all of the large future urban areas and rural settlement areas and Attachments B and C include sequencing maps for these areas at a regional and local scale. Attachment F shows dwelling and employment capacities, and bulk infrastructure costs by decade and sub-region.

Infrastructure/sequencing considerations

28. The live zoning of around 26 per cent of future urban land has determined the initial sequencing and council priorities for infrastructure servicing. The remaining areas have been sequenced primarily on the ability to address constraints to urban development in these areas and the anticipated timing of infrastructure provision. A summary of the key rationale for the proposed sequencing for each of the future urban areas and the rural settlements is in Attachment E.

Table 1: Future Urban Land Supply Strategy - Proposed sequencing

Proposed timing –

Development Ready

(Future Urban Areas)

Area^

Actuals, contracted or planned

2012 - 2017

Live Zoned Areas and Special Housing Areas

Warkworth North

Wainui East

Whenuapai

Scott Point

Red Hills

Kumeu Huapai

Hingaia

Takanini (Walters Rd)

Bellfield Rd (Opaheke)

Drury South

Bremner Rd (Drury West)

Wesley (Paerata)

Belmont (Pukekohe)

Decade One

1st half

2018 – 2022

Warkworth North*

Silverdale - Dairy Flat (business)

Whenuapai Stage 1

Drury West Stage 1*

Paerata (remainder)

Decade One

2nd half

2023 - 2027

Pukekohe

Decade Two

1st half

2028 - 2032

Warkworth South

Whenuapai Stage 2

Red Hills North

Kumeu Huapai Riverhead

Puhinui

Opaheke Drury

Drury West Stage 2

Decade Two

2nd half

2033 - 2037

Warkworth North East

Wainui East (remainder)

Silverdale Dairy Flat (remainder)

Decade Three

1st half

2038 – 2042

Takanini

Decade Three

2nd half

2043 - 2047

Yet to be determined – new growth areas

*Warkworth North and Drury West Stage 1 development ready 2022

^Refer sequencing maps for location of areas

Table 2: Future Urban Land Supply Strategy - Proposed sequencing (Rural Settlements)

Proposed timing – Development Ready (Future Urban Areas)	Area^
Actuals, contracted or planned 2012 - 2017	Live Zoned Areas and Special Housing Areas
	Hibiscus Coast (Silverdale) Hibiscus Coast (Red Beach) Hatfields Beach 1 Albany Village 1 Waimauku Swanson Maraetai 1 Oruarangi 1 Clevedon Waterways Clevedon Karaka North Kingseat Clarks Beach 1 Glenbrook Beach 1 Patumahoe

Decade One 1st half 2018 – 2022	Oruarangi 2

Decade One 2nd half 2023 - 2027	Wellsford Algies Bay Albany Village 2 Helensville 1 Clarks Beach 2 Glenbrook Beach 2

Decade Two 1st half 2028 - 2032	Helensville 2 Hatfields Beach 2 Maraetai 2

Decade Two 2nd half 2033 - 2037

Decade Three 1st half 2038 – 2042

Decade Three 2nd half 2043 - 2047
^Refer sequencing maps for location of areas

Structure Planning Programme

29. A programme of structure planning has commenced and the Whenuapai Structure Plan completed in 2016. The next priority for council-led structure planning proposed to be signalled in the Strategy is in the South for the Drury/Opaheke, Drury West, Pukekohe and Paerata future urban areas. These areas require comprehensive planning to understand and agree on the long-term development opportunities and how they will be staged over the coming years in line with the roll out of wastewater and transport infrastructure.

Public engagement process

30. The public consultation process for the 2015 Strategy followed the Special Consultative Procedure under the Local Government Act (2002). A total of 237 pieces of written feedback was received and 270 people attended four ‘Have Your Say’ public meetings. In addition, extensive public consultation took place in the future urban areas in 2016 as part of the Supporting Growth project (formerly known as Transport for Future Urban Growth). Council’s Development Programme Office has also been managing stakeholder relationships with developers in the future urban zones.

31. Those who have an interest in the refresh of the Strategy are therefore largely known. As the current process is a refresh of an existing strategy, the council is able to exercise its discretion to not use the Special Consultative Procedure process for the refresh of the Strategy. A more informal engagement process can be used and is recommended.

32. It is proposed that a public engagement period run from 29 March to 18 April 2017 and commence with a media release and a live Shape Auckland web page on 29 March 2017. Advertisements will be placed in the New Zealand Herald and local papers seeking feedback on the refresh of the Strategy, advising of public drop in sessions at local libraries (near the future urban areas) and directing them to the Shape Auckland website for further information. Those who gave feedback in 2015 on the current Strategy will be contacted directly to advise them of this current refresh.

33. A workshop for councillors and local board chairs was held on 15 February 2017. Local Board briefing sessions are scheduled as part of the wider Auckland Plan refresh on 20 and 27 February 2017.

34. Mana Whenua chairs are invited to a hui on 20 March 2017.

35. It is proposed that a deliberations panel be formed consisting of up to six members of the Planning Committee, including a member of the Independent Māori Statutory Board. The panel will consider the engagement feedback received, deliberate and make recommendations back to the 7 June Planning Committee meeting.

36. Staff considered whether the deliberations panel should be expanded in size and/or broadened to include local board members to potentially add local knowledge. A key factor to consider on this issue is the efficiency of the panel in terms of making recommendations on region wide issues. This leans towards a smaller panel consisting of regional councillors. As a result, staff recommend that the Chair of the Planning Committee be delegated powers to appoint additional members or replacement members to the delegations panel if required.

37. At the conclusion of the engagement period, the deliberations panel will meet in May 2017 to consider feedback. The panel will then make recommendations back to the Planning Committee on amendments to the Strategy as may be required.

Consideration

Local board views and implications

38. This strategy has implications for local boards, particularly Rodney, Upper Harbour, Henderson-Massey, Ōtara-Papatotoe, Papakura and Franklin local boards, as they contain areas of future urban land sequenced by the Strategy.

39. During the development of the Strategy in 2015, a briefing was held for all local board members prior to public consultation. Local board members most affected by the Strategy were also invited to the four “Have Your Say” public meetings, with 23 members attending. Feedback was received from 18 local boards during development of the existing Strategy. Attachment H includes a summary of the previous local board views.

40. Local boards have also been engaged on the future urban zones as part of the Supporting Growth transport project in 2016. A number of local board members attended the public drop in sessions. Local boards are continuing to be engaged as the project moves to the detailed phases which are currently underway.

41. For the refreshed Strategy, local board chairs were invited to the Planning Committee workshop on 15 February 2017 and members from the following local boards attended:

· Manurewa

· Franklin

· Rodney

· Upper Harbour.

42. Two briefings on the Strategy Refresh for all local board members were scheduled for 20 and 27 February 2017 as part of the wider Auckland Plan refresh process. Local board views will continue to be sought as part of the Auckland Plan refresh.

43. A complete record of local board feedback received to the refreshed Strategy will be included when reported back to the Planning Committee.

Māori impact statement

44. The refresh of the Strategy has implications for Māori and can contribute to Māori well-being and development of Māori capacity. It is acknowledged that Māori have a special relationship with Auckland’s physical and cultural environment.

45. Post-Treaty settlement, Māori may be looking to invest settlement monies in long-term investments and this may have a number of significant implications for infrastructure planning. Māori also have the potential to be significant urban landowners, looking to actively participate in urban development and promoting specific outcomes for Auckland, the environment and for Māori. This would be achieved through partnerships, investments and greater involvement in decision-making. Council has engaged with mana whenua on planning for Auckland’s future urban zones since 2012 with the development of the Rural Urban Boundary as part of the Auckland Unitary Plan.

46. During the development of the existing Strategy in 2015, ongoing liaison occurred with Te Waka Angamua and a hui was held. Attachment H includes a summary of previous mana whenua feedback.

47. The Māori Plan for Tāmaki Makaurau refers to the five pou of social, cultural, economic, environmental and governance wellbeing areas. The four pou of the original Māori Plan are reflected in principle three of the existing Strategy and it is proposed that the additional governance pou be added to the refreshed Strategy principles.

48. Engagement also took place with mana whenua on the future urban zones as part of the Supporting Growth transport project in 2016. Through this process, iwi were keen to understand the implications of the transport network options on further development in the areas, as well as ensuring specific local concerns be considered. A mana whenua values framework was developed to carry through to the next phase of the project which has now commenced.

49. A hui is scheduled on the refreshed strategy with mana whenua chairs on 20 March 2017.

Implementation

50. A monitoring programme is an integral and important part of implementing the Strategy and making it responsive to changes in the future, ensuring that the proposed sequencing remains relevant and effective and responds to change. Monitoring will be reported annually as part of the Auckland Plan Development Strategy Annual Monitoring Report and will cover a comprehensive set of key indicators, including measures of the development capacity (dwellings and business land) of both existing urban land and future urban land across Auckland. A future urban snapshot will be prepared reporting on progress for each of the future urban areas identified in the Strategy. The monitoring programme may potentially trigger refreshes of the Strategy in the future as information is collected on the actual market uptake of future urban land.

51. Further detailed planning for large areas of future urban land will occur at the structure planning stage prior to live zoning and provision of bulk infrastructure. The first structure plan has now been completed for Whenuapai and plan changes are currently being prepared to enable the first stage of development.

52. As part of the ongoing implementation of the Strategy, the council and infrastructure providers will work together to ensure land use and infrastructure planning is aligned. The infrastructure required to deliver the Strategy is not entirely funded through the current Long-term Plan. The 2018 Long-term Plan will need to consider prioritisation of bulk infrastructure projects to enable development of these areas and how these will be funded and/or financed. Once the sequencing has been confirmed through the refreshed Strategy, the indicative timing (as currently identified in the Strategy) may need to be amended as a result of Long-term Plan funding decisions.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Future Urban areas Unitary Plan zoning changes	25
b ⇩	Future Urban areas sequencing Regional Overview map	27
c ⇩	Future Urban areas sequencing map	29
d ⇩	Future Urban areas sequencing map for Rural Settlements	31
e ⇩	Infrastructure/sequencing considerations	33
f ⇩	Sequencing, dwelling and employment capacities and costs table	37
g ⇩	Process to arrive at sequencing of future urban zoned land	39
h ⇩	Summary of previous local board views and mana whenua consultation	41
i ⇩	Future Urban Land Supply Strategy (2015)	43

Signatories

Authors

Amanda Harland - Principal Growth and Infrastructure Advisor

David Hawkey - Manager Transport & Infrastructure Strategy

Authorisers

Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and Research

Jim Quinn - Chief of Strategy

Planning Committee

07 March 2017

East West Link Auckland Council Submission

File No.: CP2017/01682

Purpose

1. To update the Planning Committee on the key submission points Auckland Council (council) experts have identified with respect to the New Zealand Transport Agency’s (the Transport Agency’s) East West Link application for two notices of requirement and 23 resource consents.

2. To seek further delegations for the finalisation of the council’s submission and the finalisation of the council’s position within subsequent processes during the Board of Inquiry process.

3. To inform the Planning Committee of the legal barrier to implementing its resolution seeking that the Environment Protection Authority consider an extended eight-week submission period for the East West Link application.

Executive summary

4. On 16 December 2016, the Transport Agency lodged two notices of requirement and 23 resource consent applications (applications) under the Resource Management Act 1991 to protect and construct a major road on the northern side of the Māngere Inlet between Onehunga and Penrose. The new transport link will connect State Highway 20 (SH20) in Onehunga and State Highway 1 (SH1) at the Mt Wellington interchange. The proposed East West Link (the Project) aims to reduce high traffic and freight movements on congested local roads, provide efficient freight movements between SH20 and SH1, and improve transport connections between industrial areas and the port and airport. The Project also includes environmental improvements through the creation of stormwater wetlands, a leachate containment bund along the Māngere Inlet foreshore, and planting/ landscaping across the length of the Project.

5. The Ministers of Conservation and Environment have determined that the project is of national significance and should be referred to a Board of Inquiry. The applications were publicly notified for submissions on 22 February 2017 and submissions close on 22 March 2017.

6. Staff are working with the East West Link Political Reference Group to prepare Council’s submission. The key matters which have been identified by council experts as potential areas of issue or opportunity are:

Issues

a) additional infrastructure operational costs - particularly with respect to leachate collection systems

b) dredging and the use of mudcrete within the coastal marine area

c) adverse effects on geological features (Outstanding Natural Features), unique lava scrubland and associated wetlands (Significant Ecological Areas – terrestrial and marine), including cultural effects

d) adverse effects associated with boardwalks within the coastal marine area

e) the extent of reclamation within the coastal marine area

f) predicted deposition and mangrove spread

g) the height of stormwater infrastructure with respect to predicted sea level rise

h) severance between Onehunga Port, the community and the Mangere Inlet

i) adverse effects on Waikaraka Cemetery and adjoining area

j) alternative proposals from community groups within the Onehunga area

k) effects on scheduled heritage buildings

Opportunities

l) future urban development of the Port of Onehunga

m) enhanced cycleway and walkway connectivity across State Highway 20, State Highway 1 and around the Mangere Inlet

n) the removal of transmission lines around the Neilson Street Interchange

o) greater connectivity between the Port of Onehunga and the Onehunga township

p) declamation and channel widening in Ōtāhuhu Creek.

q) the creation of new open space and recreation areas

r) new artwork and educational signage

s) a future proofed linkage to a future ‘Mangere Inlet Shared Path’ along the eastern foreshore of the Mangere Inlet.

7. It is recommended that the delegations given to the Political Reference Group to approve Council’s submission (Attachment A) be extended to approving Council’s position throughout the Board of Inquiry process.

8. It is also noted that the Environmental Protection Agency cannot legally extend the timeframe for submissions so staff have not requested an eight-week submission period as resolved by the Planning Committee (Attachment B)

Recommendation/s

That the Planning Committee:

a) note the key issues and opportunities identified to date by council experts.

b) delegate authority to the East West Political Reference Group to work with staff throughout the course of the Board of Inquiry process in order to provide timely directions or decisions during hearings, mediation and consideration of any draft conditions and notices.

c) agree that a minimum of three East West Political Reference Group members are required to make decisions and provide direction throughout the course of the Board of Inquiry process.

d) note the legal opinion obtained by council staff that the Environmental Protection Authority is not able to give effect to a formal request by the Planning Committee to consider an eight-week submission period for this application.

Comments

9. The Project will be considered by a Board of Inquiry. The applications were publicly notified on 22 February 2017 and will close 20 working days later on 22 March 2017.

10. The council submission can be more accurately described as ‘the council family’ submission insofar as its intent is to incorporate the views of Panuku, Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, Watercare, the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board and the Mangere – Otahuhu Local Board as a complete planning response to the East West Link application. Accordingly, council planning staff have been active in meeting with various internal and external stakeholders in an effort to achieve a unified submission. This has extended to the point of sharing technical experts between Auckland Council and two of the CCO’s (Panuku and Auckland Transport).

11. To date, the review of the application by the council experts collectively identifies areas where the proposal can be improved to address issues and capitalise on current and future opportunities.

12. A particular topic of focus by the experts is place-making in the local area through reinforcing a strong sense of local identity, improving amenity, and improving connections between the Onehunga community, Port of Onehunga, and the Mangere Inlet. It is noted that this matter has also been raised by local boards and the wider community (via public meetings and community groups) as a key concern.

13. Another key issue is the extent to which the East West Link road embankment, which effectively forms a groundwater containment bund along the northern Mangere Inlet foreshore, will likely increase the council’s operational costs through an ongoing need to pump leachate/groundwater from the Pikes Point East and West closed landfills upgradient of the embankment to either proposed water treatment wetlands or the Watercare wastewater system. Concern has also been raised regarding the manner in which the works will be conducted, particularly with respect to dredging of the Mangere Inlet.

14. A third key issue is the extent to which adverse effects at Ann’s Creek, which holds areas of unique geology and indigenous vegetation of particular scientific interest, can be avoided, remedied or mitigated whilst not compromising the wider alignment.

15. In addition to the above, council experts have been considering an alternative alignment at the Neilson Street Interchange which is proposed by the Onehunga Business Association (OBA) and The Onehunga Enhancement Society (TOES) and referred to as the ‘OBA/TOES Community Plan’. This proposal has undergone peer review testing by the Transport Agency, and the methodology and outcome of this testing is included within the East West Link proposal documentation. Council experts are currently of the opinion that the ‘Community Plan’ offers no discernible traffic benefit when taken in the context of the wider transport network and overall project objectives. Council experts have also raised concerns regarding the adverse effects of the OBA/TOES Community Plan on ecology, coastal processes, and geological features of the area arising from large areas of proposed reclamation. Council’s parks team have initially indicated the scheme has some recreational benefits. Overall, the council experts are largely unsupportive of the ‘OBA/TOES Community Plan’. Assessments are ongoing.

16. As with the Auckland Unitary Plan hearing process, which concluded in 2016, the Board of Inquiry process to be followed for the East West Link will require ‘the council family’ to respond quickly with its position at the direction of the board, during any mediation, and during the consideration of draft notice of requirement and resource consent conditions. In light of this, council staff seek a resolution from the Planning Committee that the Political Reference Group established through Planning Committee Resolution Number PLA/2016/6 be given extended delegation to approve the council’s position throughout the entire Board of Inquiry process, and that a decision making majority of three is confirmed through this resolution. The Board of Inquiry process is currently due to be completed in November 2017.

17. In response to Planning Committee Resolution Number PLA/2016/6(e), repeated below:

Request that the Environment Protection Authority consider an eight-week submission period for this application due to its complexity and significant effects that it will have on the local community.

Council staff obtained legal advice from the nominated legal support for the East West Link project, Simpson Grierson (Attachment B). This advice noted that the Environmental Protection Authority cannot legally extend the submission period from the 20 working days prescribed under the Resource Management Act 1991. Accordingly, such a request to the Environmental Protection Authority has not been made.

Consideration

Local board views and implications

18. Two members of Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board and one member of Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board hold memberships on the East West Link Political Reference Group. This provides these local boards with a direct opportunity to engage on council decisions with respect to the Project. Any other local board views will be included as a section of the council family submission on the Project.

19. Council staff have engaged in an active programme of meeting with the local boards throughout the term of the Project to regularly update the boards on the latest Project developments and provide them with technical advice on specific aspects of the project of interest to the local board members and, by extension, the wider local community. In the case of Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, this has included undertaking two field trips with the local board members, and attending and presenting at a public meeting.

Māori impact statement

20. The relationship of mana whenua with Onehunga, Manukau Harbour, Māngere Inlet, volcanoes, creeks and other places of significance is acknowledged. Council staff, in collaboration with Panuku Development Auckland, have engaged with mana whenua on key aspects of the East West Link application. It is noted that mana whenua (identified as Ngāti Whātua Kaipara, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Maru, Te Patukirikiri, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Tamaoho, Te Kawerau ā Maki, Ngāti Te Ata, Te Ākitai Waiohua) are able to make an independent submission on the East West Link proposal.

21. A number of hui have been held between the council family and affected iwi to date. Most recently, two kaitiaki (operational) hui were held with mana whenua on 23 January 2017 and 15 February 2017. A governance hui, which is intended to gain endorsement of the operational feedback received by council staff to date, is scheduled to occur on 2 March 2017. Gaining this endorsement will allow feedback from mana whenua to inform the staff recommendations to the East West Link Political Reference Group on 16 March 2017.

Implementation

22. The costs of preparing the council’s submission on the East West Link application will be covered by Plans and Places existing budget and through a cost sharing of some experts with Panuku. The costs of internal experts are covered within their own departmental budgets.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Attachment A : Minute of Resolution	81
b ⇩	Attachment B : Legal Opinion	83

Signatories

Author

Matthew Gouge - Planner Auckland Unitary Plan

Authorisers

John Duguid - General Manager - Plans and Places

Jim Quinn - Chief of Strategy

Planning Committee

07 March 2017

Political reference group to consider the Government’s “Urban Development Authorities Discussion Document"

File No.: CP2017/02428

Purpose

1. To provide an overview of the government’s Urban Development Authorities Discussion Document, and to approve the establishment of a political reference group to provide direction for staff in preparing a submission.

Executive summary

2. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Urban Development Authorities Discussion Document, released in February 2017, proposes new legislation for urban development authorities.

3. The potential legislation is the government’s direct response to recommendations made by the Productivity Commission during the Using Land for Housing inquiry (2015). The government signaled the proposal in August 2016.

4. The discussion document notes that the urban development authority proposal is one of a number of initiatives to improve the urban development system overall, others being the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill and the Productivity Commission inquiry into Better Urban Planning.

5. The proposed legislation is intended to complement the government’s recent introduction of a National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity and the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

6. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to enable better urban development at scale, where projects are complex or strategically important.

7. The legislation would enable local and central government:

· to empower nationally or locally significant urban development projects to access more enabling development powers and land use rules; and

· to establish new urban development authorities to support those projects where required.

8. The intention is to overcome barriers to large scale urban development identified by the Productivity Commission’s Using Land for Housing inquiry.

9. The proposed legislation would enable publicly-controlled urban development authorities to plan and oversee the necessary development. Urban development authorities would be granted access powers to overcome these barriers, where applicable and strategically appropriate. This may include:

· powers to acquire parcels of land,

· powers to plan and fund infrastructure

· powers to buy, sell or lease land and buildings and fund infrastructure, and

· override existing and proposed district plans.

10. Developments could include housing, commercial premises, associated infrastructure, and amenities including parks, community spaces or shopping centres. Projects could also be greenfield and part of city expansion. Projects would not be limited to solely housing related projects. Development powers will not be available for stand-alone infrastructure projects.

11. The planning and consenting system as a whole; and any ability for urban development authorities to access powers under the Building Act 2004 and the Building Code will not be considered in this discussion document or during the further development of the urban development authority proposal.

12. In its submission to the Productivity Commission Using Land for Housing draft report in June 2015, the council raised the following points regarding urban development authorities. These are that the council:

· agrees that there can be high value in urban development agency models

· does not support the establishment of a government urban development agency in Auckland

· supports and believes there is scope for government to undertake complementary development activities and work alongside Development Auckland (now Panuku)

· does not support the removal of planning powers from local government to an urban development agency as local government is better placed to undertake local planning.

· recommends government undertakes an evaluation of existing development initiatives it has been involved in in Auckland, e.g. Tamaki Redevelopment Company Limited, and Hobsonville Point Company Limited.

13. Council’s submission is due on 19 May 2017. It is proposed that a political working group be established to work with and provide direction to staff in developing the submission. Due to committee dates being scheduled around Easter Holidays, a draft submission will not be ready for the Committee’s 2 May meeting. It is therefore proposed that an iteration of the submission be brought to the 2 May meeting for Councillor feedback and input, and that the Chair and Deputy Chair be delegated authority to subsequently finalise council’s submission.

Recommendation/s

That the Planning Committee:

a) agree to make a submission in respect of the government’s Urban Development Authorities Discussion Document.

b) establish a political reference group to provide direction to staff in developing council’s submission on the government’s Urban Development Authorities Discussion Document.

c) consider an iteration of the submission at the 2 May 2017 Planning Committee meeting.

d) delegate authority to the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Planning Committee to finalise the council’s submission on the government’s Urban Development Authorities Discussion Document by 19 May 2017.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Urban Development Authorities Discussion Document February 2017	159

Signatories

Author

Christina Kaiser - Principal Strategic Advisor

Authorisers

Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and Research

Jim Quinn - Chief of Strategy

Planning Committee

07 March 2017

PDF Creator

Chairperson	Cr Chris Darby
Deputy Chairperson	Cr Denise Lee
Members	Cr Dr Cathy Casey	Cr Daniel Newman, JP
	Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore	IMSB Member Liane Ngamane
	Cr Ross Clow	Cr Dick Quax
	Cr Fa’anana Efeso Collins	Cr Greg Sayers
	Cr Linda Cooper, JP	Cr Desley Simpson, JP
	Cr Alf Filipaina	Cr Sharon Stewart, QSM
	Cr Hon Christine Fletcher, QSO	Cr Sir John Walker, KNZM, CBE
	Mayor Hon Phil Goff, JP	Cr Wayne Walker
	IMSB Member Hon Tau Henare	Cr John Watson
	Cr Richard Hills
	Cr Penny Hulse
	Cr Mike Lee

No.	Title	Page
a ⇨	Information Report - Auckland Council's Officer Only submission on the proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1 - Waikato and Waipa River Catchments (Under Separate Cover)
b ⇨	Memo - Special Housing Areas established under the Auckland Housing Accord 2013-2016 (Under Separate Cover)
c ⇨	Memo - Planning Committee Worksho on the Auckland Plan Refresh - 7 February 2017 (Under Separate Cover)
d ⇨	Memo - Unitary Plan appeal decision-making by Planning Committee (Under Separate Cover)
e ⇨	Memo - Aotea Great Barrier Island Dark Sky Sanctuary Accreditation (Under Separate Cover)
f ⇨	Auckland Plan Refresh workshop 1 PowerPoint presentation (Under Separate Cover)
g ⇨	Auckland Plan Refresh Workshop 1 minutes (Under Separate Cover)

Author	Megan Tyler - Executive Officer CPO
Authoriser	Jim Quinn - Chief of Strategy

Author	Elaine Stephenson - Senior Governance Advisor
Authoriser	Jim Quinn - Chief of Strategy