Shane Henderson: Auckland Councillor on the housing density plan set to go ahead following council debate

A new housing density plan is going ahead following a heated Auckland Council debate.

The plan which allows more housing near transport hubs and fewer in natural hazard zones, has passed with 18 in support and 5 opposed.

It will remove 27 percent of Special Character Areas.

Councillor Shane Henderson says the plan now goes out for public consultation. 

"It's time for people to feedback in and say - look, we might have gotten this or that area wrong, or make some adjustments to people's neighbourhoods and things like that. It's really important that we allow people to have their say." 

Housing and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has welcomed the decision.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Auckland Council has been voting on this plan change, which

(00:03):
would enable Chris Bishop's big lofty goal of more housing
in the super city and higher housing in the super City.
They voted this afternoon, Shane into some councilor with me, Shane,
good evening.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good evening, how's it going on? Good?

Speaker 1 (00:16):
So what have you decided?

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Yes, eighteen five vote just now to pass the plan,
so that will go next through to consultation. And look,
I think it's a great day for the city.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
So that means that we will see fifteen story apartment
blocks next to train stations, next to city rail link
stations rather than three stories allowed everywhere.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, that's right. So the plan is to intense fire
long rapid transit corridors and make the most of that
CURL investment as well.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
And what does it mean? How many extra houses do
you know near that?

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yees? So we've been given a target which is legislated,
of enabling two million. Now the reality is we're not
quite sure exactly how much of the will actually be built.
That's just the capacity that we have to provide. But yeah,
we'll be expecting some significant investment over the coming years.

Speaker 1 (01:06):
Shane. That sounds great. You obviously voted for it. What
is the point of the consultation now.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, I think it's time for people to feedback in
and say, look, we might have got this all that
area wrong, or make some adjustments to people's neighborhoods and
things like that. It's really important that we allow people
to have their say and we'll certainly take that into account.
Well you really know, of course, mate.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
So if someone lives in EPSOM, someone lives in Kingsland
and they don't want come hellow high water a fifteen
story apartment block next to their house, you're going to say, okay, sure, ye, Well.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
There's a process for that, right, And we're seeing entire
neighborhoods and residents of rapids groups such engage in that
process already, and so they have a consultation period to
do that, and yeah, do let us know it is
important as part of democracy.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
Appreciate your time. Shane Henderson Will can counselate.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
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Speaker 1 (02:01):
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