Long term Plan adopted by councillors secures 10 year direction for Auckland

Auckland Council's Long-term Plan 2024-2034, adopted by Governing Body on Thursday (27 June 2024), is geared at sustainably managing regional growth and providing the greatest benefit to Auckland's many communities.

Mayor Wayne Brown said the LTP is a significant milestone in delivering on his key priorities.

"The plan means Auckland has the lowest rates rise of any metropolitan council in New Zealand while securing much greater investment to fix the region's transport system and critical water infrastructure.

"Getting the Long-term Plan across the line required an unprecedented effort across the council, and I appreciate that a tremendous amount of work went into it. That includes the deal we negotiated with central government to solve the water problem once and for all.

"With the creation of the Auckland Future Fund now agreed, the conversation can turn to wealth creation and how to get the most out of what we have - rather than just budget holes and debt."

Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson said this Long-term Plan prioritises Auckland's physical and financial resilience.

"Ultimately this plan is about building Auckland's future and delivering the outcomes that Aucklanders want and need. It is how we, as council, improve the daily lives of Aucklanders, particularly through the current cost of living concerns," said Mr Wilson.

"It is about managing the challenges we face - such as inflation, population growth, flood resilience and funding - making the most of what we have, and focusing on areas that will make the biggest difference for Auckland."

Mr Wilson said fixing and growing infrastructure is a focus over the coming decade, with more than $39 billion for capital programmes to build, or buy, assets such as roads, pipes and buildings to provide Aucklanders with services and activities.

A $14 billion transport budget will help fix roads and deliver better public transport, alongside $13.8 billion into Watercare's capital programme.

"The Long-term Plan has also secured a legacy for Auckland by creating a fund to safeguard our future. The Auckland Future Fund is new and exciting territory for us," said Mr Wilson.

The new Auckland Future Fund is a key shift in financial strategy for the council - diversifying council's major investments and better protecting the value of these investments for future generations of Aucklanders. It will also deliver additional funding for council services, of around $40 million per year from 2025/2026.

The council's remaining shares in Auckland International Airport Ltd will be transferred into the future fund, and a fund manager will decide to sell any or all shares.

The Port of Auckland is also expected to deliver $1.1 billion in profit over the next decade and, by 2027, will deliver Auckland Council $110 million, or more than $2 million a week.

The Marsden and Captain Cook wharves are also planned to pass into council ownership, for public use, in the next few years - opening new public waterfront space, improving ferry services and boosting the economy.

The plan confirms a total rates increase for the average-value residential property of around 6.8 per cent or $245.48 a year ($4.72 a week) in 2024/2025. This increase is planned to be 5.8 per cent in 2025/2026 and 7.9 per cent in 2026/2027.

Read about the plan in more detail at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/longtermplan

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Long-term Plan - seven focus areas:

Transport: Fixing roads, improving public transport and building on the basics will be delivered with $14.6 billion of capital investment and $28.2 billion of operating expenditure.

Among many things, the plan includes support for City Rail Link, improvements to the bus network in the city centre and more widely, to add capacity, improve overall speed and reliability. It will also deliver an optimised transport network and dynamic lanes to reduce congestion.

Water: delivering sustainable and affordable water services enabled by the government's Local Water Done Well policy, and Watercare's $13.8 billion capital programme and operating costs of $16.5 billion. The capital programme includes finishing the central interceptor and progressing the Huia water treatment plant upgrade. Flood resilience is supported by the $507 million Making Space for Water programme.

Built environment: this programme seeks to deliver a vibrant city and town centres, with new areas for urban regeneration and infrastructure to support housing and growth. This includes making the most of Auckland's port and waterfront precincts. It includes a capital investment of $1.2 billion and operating spending of $1.6 billion, including urban regeneration with a $100 million strategic development fund and a comprehensive waterfront plan.

Natural environment: the targeted rate continues to support volunteer and community programmes. The $517 million of capital funding and $7.9 billion of operating funding includes improvements to waste diversion and a continued regional move to rates funded refuse collection.

Community: the community programme will deliver increased sports and recreation facilities, library and digital services, and community-led arts and cultural activities, local events, community development and safety activities. It is funded by a $4.2 billion capital spend and $12.4 billion operating costs. Enabling Auckland's 21 local boards to deliver for their communities is also a key focus, through a fairer funding model.

Economic and cultural development: $587 million of capital investment and $2.9 billion of operating spending will promote Auckland as a place to live, work, invest study and visit. This is alongside providing leisure sport and entertainment venues such as the art gallery and Auckland Zoo.

Well-managed local government: supporting Auckland Council to deliver services and enable elected represented to make decisions, through a capital investment of $2.2 billion of capital spending and $6.5 billion operating spending. This includes funding to achieve better outcomes for and with Maori, investing in fit-for-purpose technology, accelerating group shared services and funding flood-risk property buyouts. The plan also provides for an additional $27.8 million in savings in year one, rising to $60 million in the next three years.

The Long-term Plan 2024-2034 will be implemented through Auckland Council and the council-controlled organisations. Read about the plan in more detail at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/longtermplan

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