Your big chance to help shape the city's future

Have your say: The city is growing an we're making plans now to determine how land will be used.

From City Scene, published on 29 March, 2009.

Plans for how the Auckland isthmus could look in the future, including the use of land and how and where development should occur, are available for public feedback until Friday, 8 May.

The council has split the city into 10 areas to help it plan for the right things to be developed at the right time, which will ensure Auckland continues to be a great place to live, work and play.

The 10 area plans sit under a bigger city-wide framework that will be available with next week's City Scene for people to comment on. Following community input, the plans will be used as the basis for a revised isthmus district plan, due for review in 2010.

"Rather than simply amend the existing district plan we've decided to develop a new plan from the bottom up - one that better reflects the changes of a growing, evolving city including changes in sustainability and urban design, legislation, and community expectations," said Councillor Graeme Mulholland, deputy chairperson of the City Development Committee and chairperson of the framework's political working party.

"The framework is the first step in that process. It sets out what we think different areas of the isthmus could look like by 2030. It's of huge importance to all residents, businesses and property owners as it may affect their lives in deciding where they want to live, and work, and impact on future property values. That's why we're embarking on a major community engagement programme to capture feedback."

Months of research and input from the community and key stakeholders have already contributed to the plans, which were monitored by a political working party and endorsed by the City Development Committee.

The community engagement programme includes displays at major shopping malls and public libraries crewed by council staff; media and bus stop advertising; an interactive website, It's my backyard, for in-depth information on the framework and to receive submissions; and school forums with geography students.

"It is the most significant exercise in city planning we have undertaken and it's essential we hear from residents, businesses and people who visit and use the city, as to whether we're on the right track," said Mr Mulholland.

Novel campaign to attract feedback

Auckland City Council has devised a novel campaign to engage people in planning the city's future development.

Attention-grabbing promotional materials depict whimsical suggestions of how the city might deal with land use and development to cater for growth as part of its future planning framework.

The humorous approach under the heading "Everyone has a plan for Auckland, tell us what you think of ours" features sheep grazing in green pasture in the middle of a building complex, a roller coaster zooming down a main road, and elegant homes floating in the harbour.

"The idea is to use surreal situations to get people interested in looking at what is really being suggested for the Auckland isthmus in the council's future planning framework and encourage their feedback on what may be in store for their local area," says Councillor Graeme Mulholland, deputy chairperson of the City Development Committee and chairperson of the framework's political working party.

Residents will hear about the framework via the council's website, It's my backyard, posters at bus stops, City Scene inserts, advertising through print and internet channels, and displays at shopping malls and public libraries.

Key to helping people understand the framework's possible impact on their area will be detailed maps indicating what the future outcomes for that area could be.