The Council will pay more attention to your response to their survey if you express them in your own words. Some suggested key points are set out below. Council only has limited scope to moderate the Government’s push for intensification, so your feedback will be most effective if it focuses on Council’s specific questions.
Walkable Catchments and Intensification
We think the proposed walkable catchments for the CBD, metropolitan centres (eg Albany) and rapid public transport stops (1200m, 800m and 800m respectively) are sensible – they will help to focus intensification on areas where it is appropriate.
We do not support Council’s proposal to apply the Terraced Housing and Apartment Buildings zone in areas up to 400 metres from town centres like Highbury, or 200 metres from local centres. We think these distances should be closer, because those centres are already quite small (with limited public transport links and parking), and would lose their neighbourhood feel if they are surrounded by a large band of high-density housing.
Special Character Areas
We do not support Council’s proposal to include just the “identified” (blue) special character areas as a qualifying matter. All existing special character areas should be a qualifying matter.
Council’s proposed new rules for identifying “special character areas” are too narrow. The existing special character areas should all be retained, including Northcote and Birkenhead Points. They are areas of high character value with an important historical heritage. They should be protected to ensure the area keeps its distinctive character and unique history.
We do not support Council’s proposed residential special character areas. We think there are more areas that should be identified as a qualifying matter – ie, all special character areas, not just a subset.
Council’s scoring system is too restrictive:
The proposal requires 66% of individual properties in an area to score 5/6 or 6/6 on a character assessment, before the area would qualify to keep its “special character area” status. The 66% threshold should be lower (eg 50% – still a majority of character houses).
Also, properties scoring 4/6 (which Council accepts are still “character supporting”) should be counted towards the percentage test as well, not just 5/6 or 6/6.
Many other suburbs that are keeping their “special character area” status were surveyed in person by Council representatives doing site visits. Northcote and Birkenhead Points were just assessed using Google Street View, which means Council’s scoring for those areas does not properly show their true character status.
Infrastructure Constraints
We support Council’s proposal to include areas in Auckland with long-term significant infrastructure constraints as a qualifying matter, meaning that infrastructure should be taken into account as a limitation on increased housing density.
Little Shoal Bay and Le Roys Bush are already badly affected by freshwater flooding after heavy rainfall. Increased densification will only make that worse, because more building site coverage means more stormwater runoff. The area does not have the stormwater infrastructure to manage that – it is a sensitive ecological area that would be badly harmed by increased silting and runoff.
Onewa Road is already above capacity for traffic, with severe gridlock every morning. The area is not well served with public transport capacity (existing or planned). Any increased density would just add more traffic commuting to the CBD each morning, as most residents do not work locally.
Need help or have questions? email: pointsheritage@gmail.com
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