Submissions A: Waterfront Plan

Introduction After the Rugby World Cup event there is much to celebrate in what has been achieved on Auckland’s waterfront. And there is much to support in the Waterfront Development Agency’s (WDA) first Draft Waterfront Plan. This DWP is fresh and appealing. It contains a well-presented set of goals and objectives, and a clearly described set of proposals and timelines – most of which will depend on Council agreement and Council funding. Fundamental to these submissions is an understanding of what is meant by the word “destination” and what constitutes a public waterfront that is best for Auckland. It is recognised that the WDA is not master of its own destiny – or of Auckland’s waterfront – and that the WDA is accountable to Auckland Council. However, the WDA has a leadership role in the development of Auckland’s waterfront, and Auckland requires the WDA to take that role, and to make recommendations that will deliver an Auckland waterfront which best meets the full diversity of expectations. That will include building a robust relationship with Ports of Auckland whose growth assumptions need to be challenged in Auckland’s overall best interests. The following submissions more or less follow the format of the WDA’s Draft Waterfront Plan (DWP). They begin with some consideration of the Waterfront Goals. There are detailed submissions relating to technical documents: Cruise and Port. The draft Waterfront Development Plan goals are: 1. A public waterfront 2. A working waterfront 3. A growing waterfront 4. A connected waterfront The first DWP objective is: “a sustainable area”. However the word “growth” or “growing” is problematic in the context of sustainability. In fact the DWP’s description of what the draft goal “A growing waterfront” means, emphasises the need for a significant lift in Auckland’s and New Zealand’s productivity. Productivity is central to many Government, local government and business development initiatives throughout New Zealand now. Productivity increase can be achieved without growth. But growth can occur without any improvement in productivity. At a time of fiscal stringency, the need for sustainability, and trends that allow growth only when it demonstrates high benefit/cost returns, it is my submission that Goal 3 should read: “A productive waterfront”. I note at the outset that in the DWP “Cruise” and “Ports” activities are both positioned under Goal 2: “A working waterfront”. This is appropriate in my view. The plan should be absolutely clear that provision for “Cruise” on Queens does conflict with Goal 1: “A public waterfront”.

Submission 1: Goal 3 should read: “A productive waterfront."