An Auckland epiphany

Monday, September 26th 2011, 7:11PM

If there is one town or city in New Zealand we love to hate or hate to love it is Auckland.

Being a Wellingtonian at heart, who spent a bit of time in Auckland, left to live in Rotorua and still supports the Hurricances and Lions, Auckland hasn't yet won me over. But.

Last week I had a bit of an epiphany. It’s a little weird. In some ways I wouldn’t really take much notice of news stories about a draft plan to revitalise the Auckland CBD.

I heard some news stories at the start of the week and took a little notice. But it was sitting down at a Crockers function to listen to Auckland City Council Manager of Environmental Strategy and Policy Ludo Campbell-Reid changed my view.

He outlined the council’s plans for the downtown area and made me realise why there were all these bits I hate about Auckland; how for years the city has had rubbish leadership; how buses and roads clog streets; how the city has failed to embrace its natural beauty – particularly its harbour.

The vision he outlined seemed simple and visionary. At the least logical. What’s more you could see how, if the plans were implemented Auckland could rival great international cities like Sydney and Melbourne in the future.

Everyone should take notice of what is planned as it will have direct implications for the performance of the New Zealand economy and for the people and businesses which live and trade within the greater Auckland area.
Property investors should too.

Auckland is often considered the centre of the property investment universe in New Zealand – partly because 1.4 million people live there, and its growth and geographical characteristics give it important investment characteristics.

The enthusiasm was slightly dampened when the final slide showed the timelines for these developments. Episode three, as it’s called is planned for 2027-2052.

When those years roll around I won’t be using cycle lines it’ll be more like looking for places with wheelchair, or walking frame access.

Many of the changes will happen in the first episode starting 2012.

Jokes aside go and check out www.theaucklandplan.govt.nz and see what’s planned.

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