Draft Future Urban Land Supply Strategy
Warkworth Have Your Say event: 3 August 2015
Summary of feedback
This document provides a record of the feedback provided by members of the
public who attended the 3 August Future Urban Land Supply Strategy Have
Your Say event at Warkworth. The feedback is grouped around the four
discussion questions that were posed by Auckland Council to members of the
public at this event.
Question one: Do you agree with the principle of forward planning and
sequencing the Future Urban areas to coordinate land use and infrastructure?
Support and recognise for the need for a land release strategy.
Agree with the principle of forward planning and sequencing, and consider it sensible to
undertake planning now, rather than being forced to be reactive at a later date.
Agree with large scale areas being planned (strategic) but need more information.
Agree that planning is necessary to be able to meet future infrastructure (wastewater,
stormwater and transport) requirements.
Agree that you need to plan for infrastructure - key element is to know what you are
doing.
The Strategy provides an opportunity to plan better and invest in more sustainable
infrastructure.
Recognition of practicality of providing infrastructure and economics - may mean that
multiple areas can’t be serviced all at once.
Robust plans require a firm evidential basis and the ability to be tested. Queried
whether it is possible to realistically plan for a 30 year timeframe? Given how quickly
things can change, it may be better to focus on the next 5-10 years - otherwise another
plan/strategy may need to be developed to adapt to any new issues which arise.
There is a need to ensure balance and flexibility in the Strategy, to adapt to changing
circumstances and avoid spending money unnecessarily.
Spatial planning/area plans – vitally important.
Agree with principle of sequencing, need more information and rationale.
Question two: Do you agree with the sequencing proposed within the draft Future
Urban Land Supply Strategy?
At a high level agree with the sequencing for Warkworth North and Warkworth South
and considered it appeared logical, particularly given the need for rectification of
motorway issues in the area before development can take place.
Do not have views on the sequencing of infrastructure in the other future urban areas
affected by the Strategy.
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Question three: What aspects of the sequencing in the draft Future Urban Land
Supply Strategy do you disagree with?
Why are we looking at Warkworth ahead of other areas closer to Auckland? The council
should intensify development/increase dense development in central Auckland first
before spreading out further afield.
Why not develop the new future urban areas in an outward direction from Auckland?
The sequencing needs to be more refined.
Timing – remove decade timing.
Need to break down the sequencing into smaller areas, but plan the area as a whole.
Considered the investment and growth envisaged by the Strategy may benefit from
being spread out over a longer timeframe. As such, growth in Warkworth should be
divided into four phases over 20 years instead of one decade.
Questioned the developable capacity and proposed timing in the Strategy, given the
issues and constraints (such as sewage and road requirements) affecting Warkworth
North. These would need to be addressed in the first decade, in order for envisaged
work to take place in the second decade. Design and consents would need to be timely
and the majority of costs would have to be incurred early in the first decade, to enable
work and delivery in the second.
Time frames are too slow, want to start planning now.
Communities that want to work earlier with Council should be prioritised.
Infrastructure needs for ‘waiting businesses’ (businesses who want to establish
themselves in Warkworth now) need to be addressed as soon as possible. These
businesses are needed to provide jobs and there is a risk that they may go somewhere
else if they have to wait too long.
The urgency of agreeing the spatial layout and the structure plan process has to come
forward. Developers want to do it now and they have the ability to do so – big
developers looking for 1000 house developments.
Land in Warkworth East should be put back in.
Warkworth East should be planned first.
Warkworth North West complicated. Going past show grounds, furthest away.
Areas of Future Urban Zone are not part of project – why not included?
Why is immediate Future Urban Land currently being developed not included in first 5
years?
Worried about the timing – want the town to be ready for the growth.
Why sequence the north and south of Warkworth separately, rather than natural growth
around all sides of Warkworth?
Unclear from information whether north or south easier to build infrastructure for? It is
accepted that areas that can be serviced should go ahead first.
Growth in the area of Warkworth north south of existing State Highway One and
Warkworth South west of State Highway One could be better option – growing out from
existing town.
Grow out from centre rather than north then south.
Warkworth North is sequenced earlier than Warkworth South, but with respect to timing
it is recommended to start two years earlier and have 50% of the new infrastructure
ready in 2022 when the new motorway is ready.
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What happens between now and 2022? Concerns that nothing will happen.
Are there other options for the logical sequencing of infrastructure investment?
Should provide options and choices.
Relies on developer input.
Too many business centres in Warkworth if another one goes in the north. Although
small, local shops (dairy etc.) within a ‘5 min walk’ needed in new areas.
Pak’nSave may dictate where shops are (they never go in centres) and they own land in
the north near Hudson Road.
Concerns that getting infrastructure north will be a huge issue.
Motorway will have big impact, could change model.
Road of National Significance (RONS) and Matakana link road will service north for
transport so the north could be first. If no Matakana link road, then south should be first.
Hill Street intersection must be fixed before the north is progressed.
Matakana link will solve Hill Street problems, so no need for Hill Street upgrade.
Matakana link road will not solve Hill Street problems, need to fix Hill Street.
Lots of money wasted on Hill Street. Perhaps leave as is? (It’s a tourist attraction now).
How can council handle this planning exercise if they can’t fix Hill Street after 60 years?
Silverdale/Wainui/Dairy Flat could be ahead of Warkworth in the sequencing as it is
within the commuter zone. Understood that servicing Silverdale is expensive and the
lead in times too long, so Warkworth could happen earlier than Silverdale. Live in
Warkworth, work in Silverdale.
Sequencing too broad for Southern Area.
Question four: Do you have any further comments on the draft Future Urban Land
Supply Strategy?
The big picture should be considered and growth encouraged into other parts of the
country, rather than concentrated in Auckland.
What happens when someone goes out of sequence? Concerned with out of
sequence?
Concerned about leap frogging.
Worried about certainty.
Need some idea of how it all links – like a structure plan in one hit, but the sections
(north and south) could be done separately.
We are talking about satellite towns – but what does that actually mean?
How did they get to 30,000 people within Warkworth?
Is it big enough for 30,000 people?
Are the growth projections for Warkworth realistic?
What about intensification in the existing areas of Warkworth? It would be relatively
easy to intensify the countryside living zone around Viv Davie-Martin Drive and the low
Intensity residential zones in the town.
The development at Algies Bay should have been part of this Strategy.
Traditional models of bulk infrastructure are too costly and linear.
Capital expenditure on infrastructure could be decreased if, for instance, there is a
change in how we deal with sewage (e.g. through composting toilets), water treatment,
rail etc. In this respect, initial investments would be offset by decreasing bulk
infrastructure requirements overall.
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Cautioned about investing in infrastructure which does not lead to development.
Experiences in other areas illustrate the importance of this. In Edinburgh, the council
spent a lot of money on infrastructure (including four trams) but was left with empty land
which was not developed due to the global financial crisis. Similarly, only one third of the
capacity in Kawakawa is used as the area has not grown. Retiring in Kerikeri was
popular in the 80s and 90s but it is not so popular now. Mangawhai has also declined in
popularity.
You need the people/ratepayers first, in order to fund infrastructure through rates.
Legislative changes might be required – for instance, to obtain funding.
Are we involving telecommunication companies in our bulk infrastructure discussions,
feeling that this is not being examined to the depth it deserves to be, could be a risk.
People are working from home for lifestyle choice. People can work at home now,
however technology needs addressing e.g. broadband is slow.
There is not enough commercial/industrial land, our hospital is woeful, the college is
stretched to capacity and the primary schools are exploding.
We don’t have a town centre or a “town square”, if we are only looking at North and
South – where does that leave the town centre?
Town should grow from centre out.
Potentially Warkworth will be home to upwardly mobile people – 45 minute commute on
new RONS to Auckland.
Not all people who move to Warkworth will commute to Auckland.
There is a need for additional retail space in Warkworth.
Area around Hudson Road in Warkworth North has the potential to accommodate retail
use, as well as more light industrial / business uses.
Need to avoid fragmenting retail around the urban area – ensure the existing town
centre remains as the heart of Warkworth.
Consider whether there is ability to accommodate more retail in existing town centre.
Would be beneficial to understand what land is available for development now (i.e.
currently zoned and serviced) – particularly for expansion of retail within Warkworth.
More retail is needed to keep expenditure within the town – stop expenditure leaking out
into Silverdale or North Shore.
Business land is required in Warkworth, but some businesses still won’t come here (e.g.
IT businesses). Although Oracle are in Warkworth, so why not others?
At the moment there are hardly any job opportunities in Warkworth. What types of
businesses are anticipated for Warkworth that would create all the new jobs? More retail
is not needed.
Where is the likely industrial land?
Heavy industry is unlikely to locate in Warkworth.
Employment - once RONS comes through, area will have better access to employment
in Silverdale / Dairy Flat and Albany.
Business land is more viable in Silverdale than Warkworth. Although, perhaps
Silverdale needs more nightlife/entertainment to attract businesses with young people.
Many people reside in Warkworth as they do not want to live in central Auckland. This
should be considered in plans for growth and the location of jobs and residential
development.
May increase housing demand – area seen as good value compared to North Shore.
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Affordable houses are needed to attract workers to support the new businesses; people
are having to relocate to cheaper housing in Wellsford.
Suggestion that area of Warkworth North around Hudson Road may be suitable for
lower cost houses, provide affordable housing opportunities for local residents.
Young families are coming into Warkworth, because it is a bit cheaper than Auckland –
we have very little facilities for youth, no public transport and parking is a massive
problem in town.
E.g. Falls Road has new housing – don’t want to cut them up. Development already
happened.
Many people are moving to Warkworth with retirement in mind. As such, they may
commute into central Auckland and require transport infrastructure for the next few years
- but then they will retire and be likely to travel less. This will impact on infrastructure
requirements, and the services and jobs needed in the Warkworth area.
Older people are looking for the “lock up and leave” style as they escape winters
overseas and/or in their RVs in other seasons.
Opportunity to create linkages between new north area and existing town, walking and
cycling linkages are particularly important.
The Matakana green subdivision has covenants with the land which helps ensure
sustainable living.
Local recycling centres can lead to health and lifestyle benefits.
Roading very important.
Warkworth has transport issues and constraints and that this affects residents’ ability to
commute to work in central Auckland.
Transport may be a real barrier to future development if the RONS does not receive
adequate funding.
Access issues need addressing, such as the motorway and Hill Street requiring
completion, so that development and growth can take place.
Concern over impact on Hill Street intersection.
Disconnect between what is needed in 2022 and what is needed now. Hill Street is
needed now.
Need action on western connector.
Will there be an extension to Sandspit Road?
Will there be a link road to Matakana Road (seen as critical)?
Warkworth South residents will need to travel north to access motorway and therefore
this will place further pressure on the intersection.
With no public transport in place it is hard to commute between Warkworth and Auckland
and/or Wellsford. Public transport is needed if the area grows.
Park and ride in Warkworth would be needed with RONS (maybe needed now).
Get roading networks sorted first.
Get Warkworth South included in first phase - then get bypass through. Big impact on
traffic flows.
The bypass to Matakana Road from Clayden Road is important to reduce the traffic on
Hill Street (and necessary when the north-eastern area would be developed).
There will be a need for a new onramp to the new motorway in South Warkworth if the
southern area is developed.
McKinney Road, what is the infrastructure capacity for current development? Why was
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land released?
Sourcing water for all the new dwellings is a big problem. Pumping ground water from
rural areas can make the land unsuitable for certain business practices, such as farming,
glass houses etc. (For example, the land overlying an aquifer just west of State
Highway One and between Hudson Road and Kaipara Flats Road).
Warkworth North area prone to flooding issues, have these been considered?
Is there sufficient wastewater capacity for Warkworth North?
Water supply – I thought we had the Sanderson Road bore? I think there is a consenting
issue. Apparently Auckland Council bought the land (Watercare?) the bore might not
meet the full capacity of expected growth?
Relies on developer input.
Private investment required for Warkworth to grow – not just council.
The developers can come up with alternatives – need for developer agreements on
provision of social infrastructure (framework like SHAs).
Need to create a framework for developers and bring the structure plan forward. Need
to find better ways of working with the developers and you’ve got to involve local people.
Process needs to include developers and they need to be informed.
The region is diverse and there should be diversity in land values and the types of
development which takes place. This will be driven by the market.
Where exactly are the vacant sections envisaged by council to be available for
development?
Watercare and Auckland Transport should regularly update their websites to help
developers and independent planners find out information – bullet points and facts for
each area.
Where is the new school going to be based?
What about the schools in Warkworth? There is limited space in the current college and
primary school.
Planning and development of walkways and cycleways is required from schools and
particularly using the river.
Do the other areas of Auckland have the same impact and high usage on weekends?
Becomes another suburb of Auckland.
More detail needed on Strategy, too broad.
More information needed, hard to give feedback. Don’t know what deciding on.
Without knowing the detail, it is hard to give feedback on sequencing across the region
(rather than just own area).
2004 Warkworth structure plan has not been followed through.
When will structure planning occur? 2019 for structure planning is not that far away. The
community needs time to get itself ready for it.
It should be a community-led structure plan for Warkworth.
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