Don’t miss out!

Tuesday marked the release of four major documents, The Auckland Plan, Economic Development Strategy, Central City Masterplan and the Waterfront Plan, that outline the future for the region, and most importantly for Heart of the City and its members - the Central City and the Waterfront.

Council is asking for feedback on all four documents by 25 October 2011. The plans are far reaching in their aspiration to transform a city, to bring new colour and life to the city centre and Waterfront, and to strengthen the city as the premier place for business.

Could this be the future of Quay Street?

So what are we currently thinking?

Download a PDF summary of what we are thinking here...

Central City Masterplan

• We generally support the vision and the direction that has been outlined, and overall this could result in a dramatically transformed central city, that would truly make its mark.
• It is great to see illustrations outlining the development potential for the city, and what is presented paints a really picture for the future.
• How will these initiatives be funded? A number of different funding options are proposed. One of the many funding options would be to extend the CBD Targeted Rate, what do you think of this?
• One of the critical aspects for realising the Central City Masterplan will be developing the Transport Strategy for the city, and this is due out early 2012. We want to be confident that the decisions around key projects take into consideration how private vehicles, and public transport, particularly buses, will continue to access the city.
• We would like to see the Walking and Cycling across the Harbour Bridge acknowledged in the documents.
• We have to delve deeper into understanding the Central City Rail Loop.
• We believe that Heritage should feature more prominently.

Waterfront Plan

• The plan would realise the huge potential the waterfront has to be a major drawcard for the city, for locals and visitors a like.
• We ask what an expanded Port with 4 times the container storage would recognise in terms of supporting infrastructure such as road and rail.
• We are concerned about the use of Queens Wharf as a Cruise Terminal, over Bledisloe Wharf.

Economic Development Strategy

• We support the idea of the retention of the central city as the premier place to do business, and will be reviewing all of the proposed actions over the coming week.
• We support the notion of making it easier to do business, through greater efficient processes and services, and by setting business rates and charges that encourage business.

Could this be the future of Queen Street?

Over the next few weeks, Heart of the City will be researching the documents further to develop our submission, and we will publish this as a draft on our website before finalising it. We welcome your thoughts and comments on any of the documents currently out for consultation, so let us know by contacting us on info@hotcity.co.nz

If you want a summary of all the four plans, then you can download the summary below:

http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/aboutcouncil/planspoliciespublications/theaucklandplan/draftaucklandplansummary.pdf

You can view the full plans in detail, and the opportunity to provide feedback direct to Council at the following location:

http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/PlansPoliciesPublications/theaucklandplan/Pages/theaucklandplan.aspx?utm_source=homepage%2Bpromo%2Btile&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=Auckland%2BPlan