Kendyl Smith: Albert-Eden Local Board Chair voices disapproval with the Government's plan to build taller apartments in Auckland suburbs

Not everyone's a fan of Government's efforts to build taller in central Auckland suburbs.

The Government is requiring the council to legislate for apartments at least 15 storeys high around the Mount Eden, Kingsland, and Morningside Stations.

It will be 10 storeys near the Mount Albert and Baldwin Avenue terminals. 

Albert-Eden Local Board Chair, Kendyl Smith, says this feels rushed, and hasn't included any consultation with residents.

"So to be told overnight that you might have a 15-storey block beside you is very unpalatable."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, as predicted, not everyone loves that the government is
forcing Auckland Council to allow those fifteen story apartment buildings
near key train stations in the city. Kendall Smith is
the chair of the albert Eden Local Board and with
us hallo, Kendall, Hi, how are you well? Thank you?
Did it take you by surprise?

Speaker 2 (00:17):
I have to say it was a bit shocking and
a bit confronting just the level of intensication. I mean,
we all think that intensification is important, especially around these
transport hubs, and especially around the huge investment they've made
into the city rail link. However, I just think the

(00:37):
intensity it feels a bit blunt and it feels a
bit too quick.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
What's the better way do you think of doing it?

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Oh? Look, I think they should really be going through
the normal planning process so that people a can get
a chance to understand what has actually been proposed and
it's going to happen in the area, that they get
a chance to be heard. I think under this process
I really get the impression. And I don't know for

(01:06):
a fact, but I think it's going to be very
hard for the community to have a meaningful impact in.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
Being who but Kendall isn't the point of not going
through the usual planning process that the usual planning process
is a problem and it doesn't allow anything really to happen.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Oh look, look, I agree that there is sometimes red
tape for red tape's sake, But if you don't allow, like,
forcing something onto a community will never get you great
community outcome. It won't actually allow you to plan. It's
going to be so imposing in an area that has

(01:44):
this amazing heritage, and all of a sudden it's going
to have fifteen stories high.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
Are you guys going to fight at Kendall because it
feels to me like this is very fightable.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah. Well, look, I only speak on behalf of my
I hadn't spoken to the whole of the local board
about this, and there will be various views on the
local board. There will be some of my members there
absolutely love it. They love a good bit of public
transport half a bit of which we all do. But
there will be some people who will be I live
in a heritage area, a special character area, and that

(02:19):
I really value, and the most of the people who
live probably in Mount Eden and Epsom and Mount Albert
and Kingsland have chosen those areas because it's the special
character and the heritage that they love about it. And
so to be told overnight that you might have a
fifteen story block beside you is very unpalatable because you

(02:43):
sere's a financial element of it, which these are people's homes,
which is usually people's biggest investments, but it's their community
in their home that's going to change like drastically. It's unprecedented.

Speaker 1 (02:56):
We will have to live with there. I really appreciate it.
I really appreciate your time. Thank you very much for
talking austro As Kendall Smith, chair of the Albert Eden
Local Board. For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen
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