Auckland City's Long-term Plan 2006–2016

World leaders - where Auckland can excel and be internationally renowned

With 181 ethnic cultures living here, Auckland is a very multicultural city, and that's something we can feel very proud of.

It is important to us to take a proactive role by helping new migrants to put down roots in Auckland.

We will spend $1.5 million each year to provide a wider range of services and initiatives to help increasingly diverse migrants integrate into their Auckland communities and to promote the diversity of peoples within the city.

We have dedicated $56 million to improve public access to Auckland's two harbours, including land purchases and development to create new parks around the harbours, extending existing parks on the Manukau Harbour waterfront, and developing harbour walkways, such as a new walkway from Blockhouse Bay to Onehunga.

World class - to make the most of Auckland's inherent advantages

This project to develop the CBD waterfront, including Wynyard Point and the surrounding area, will provide much-needed capacity for growth in a central location and a significant international tourist and visitor attraction. It will cost $340 million over 10 years.

The council has earmarked $17 million over 10 years for work in local centres to protect their unique character and heritage. Specifically, this means streetscape work, which includes new footpaths, lighting, street furniture (seats and bins) and tree planting.

Swimming pools help contribute to Auckland's sense of place as a city surrounded by water and with numerous aquatic leisure activities. Research has identified a lack of swimming pools in Avondale and Otahuhu relative to other areas of the city.

We have committed $20.5 million for two new pools to bring the facilities available to the people of Otahuhu and Avondale in line with the rest of our city.

Big city baseline - to ensure all the basic needs of a big city are met

Auckland's growth, particularly in the Tamaki Edge area, is creating demands on the local transport network. This $800 million investment will involve both buying land and improving arterial roads, networks and public transport to increase access and create connections, unlocking the economic potential of the area.

This work will be undertaken as part of a wider regional initiative, working with partners Manukau City Council and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority to promote sustainable, affordable, transport choices and to maximise the benefits provided from both the road network and public transport.

 Auckland city is growing rapidly. By 2021 the population is estimated to increase to more than half a million people.

With growth comes more stormwater runoff from increased areas of hard surfaces and more pollutants. We will invest an additional $44 million over the next 10 years on our stormwater system to reduce flooding and cater for the expected population growth.

The council's $83 million programme to upgrade the city's 2200km network of footpaths will make walking a viable and attractive travel option with safer footpaths, street lighting and quality urban design.

The council is committed to spending $400,000 each year on initiatives such as the walking school bus programme, developing "Travelwise" for school programmes and introducing safer routes to school.

We will also conduct engineering studies to better understand the causes of crashes near schools. A capital works portion of $6 million will be used to improve infrastructure associated with school zones and pedestrian crossings.