Heritage group wants Auckland exempted from intensification law

The government’s intensification plans appear to be gradually unravelling, according to Devonport Heritage.

In the first of three recent developments related to the issue, the government agreed to delay the implementation of intensification in Auckland for at least a year, due to flooding issues in the city.

Then the National Opposition withdrew its support for the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) legislation, which allows three houses of three storeys on all sites without resource consent.

Now two members have resigned from the Independent Hearings Panel appointed by Auckland Council to process Plan Change 78.

“It feels like the whole process is collapsing to some extent, especially with regards to Auckland which already has enough zoning for 30 years of housing development in the Unitary Plan,” said Margot McRae, chairperson of Devonport Heritage.

The group has campaigned against the intensification legislation, which it says will create poor housing throughout the city and could destroy its heritage areas.

“We have worked hard on submissions to retain Devonport’s character area overlay, and we believe, like so many others, that the MDRS will not solve Auckland’s housing shortage,” McRae said. “After the flooding the MDRS was shown to be unworkable for Auckland. It’s ludicrous to cram more houses everywhere, which come with more concrete and roof runoff and reduces trees and soakage areas.

“Do we really want to build houses that will cause misery for people when they flood?”

The legislation had always been wrong and it should be kicked out of Auckland altogether, she said. “Now is the time for very serious and robust investigations into where housing can safely be built with the necessary infrastructure. It is not the time to throw houses up everywhere in the city with no planning at all. If the city wants to provide more intensive housing, it needs more planning not less.”

McRae believes the legislation is out of tune with climate change and public opinion.

The only rational response to Auckland’s flooding risk is to remove the city from the MDRS, she said.