Media Release

Councillor Dick Quax

Sunday, 23 June 2013

Widespread Intensification Puts Lives at Risk

Inadequate consultation with one of the Auckland Council’s council controlled organisations has highlighted more inadequacies in the draft Unitary Plan, the rulebook that will direct Auckland future development.

A key feature and the most contentious part of the plan is to squeeze the majority of development over the next thirty years into the present urban footprint. This will be achieved through major up zoning of nearly sixty percent of Auckland.

“Watercare has expressed concerns that if intensification goes ahead in some areas there may well be a drop in water pressure”, says Cr Quax.

In addition, Watercare go on to say that fire fighting capability may be compromised by lowered water pressure.

“It is very concerning that the safety of Aucklanders may be part at risk because intensification occurs where water infrastructure may be inadequate.”

“Watercare also point out that there is increased potential for overflows from the wastewater network.”

The Auckland people have been told that development will only occur with adequate infrastructure is in place. It appears that the draft Plan and the asset management plans of Watercare do not match up in because of the widespread intensification planned by Council.

Watercare Services Limited, in its submission to the Auckland Council has expressed concerns that that its asset management plan prepared at the end of 2011 was based on the Council’s population forecast and projected land use development programme.  This information specified intensification around metropolitan and town centres. Watercare has complained that the draft Unitary Plan “indicate different patterns of land use development than have been provided for in Watercare’s asset management plan.

ENDS

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