Auckland’s recovery – community update

Auckland’s Long-term Plan consultation includes flood resilience programme options and trade-offs

Auckland Council’s Long-term Plan (LTP) 2024-2034 has opened for public consultation, giving Aucklanders the chance to have their say on the options and trade-offs that will influence region-wide activities, services and investment. The LTP proposal aims to strengthen Auckland’s physical and financial resilience, while tackling big budget challenges. You can view the plan and have your say at akhaveyoursay.nz/ourplan.

Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson says this year’s LTP takes a new approach compared to previous years, by presenting multiple options for consultation – a central proposal and options to do more or do less.

“We all want a better Auckland – a thriving, beautiful city that has recovered from the floods and is more resilient in future,” says Phil.

The LTP’s central proposal includes strengthening Auckland’s resilience to flooding with the new Making Space for Water Programme of more than $1 billion of investment (including government co-funding). Along with the central proposal, the LTP includes options and trade-offs – two additional scenarios to pay more, get more or to pay less, get less.

The ‘pay more, get more’ scenario includes accelerating the Making Space for Water programme for delivery within six years, if possible, rather than to deliver within 10 years as under the central proposal. Under the ‘pay less, get less’ scenario there would be reduced investment in the Making Space for Water programme. This would mean the council would focus on maintenance works only, providing less resilience against flooding and not taking full advantage of the government’s $380 million co-funding.

Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Plan: What’s our commitment to recovery?

Following last year’s emergency response, the council and the Government have developed rapid solutions and made significant investments to support impacted communities, and to get the region’s infrastructure back on track.

While the scale, complexity, and challenge of recovery are considerable, there is an opportunity for mana whenua, communities and residents to recover in a way that acknowledges the future changes and challenges our region will face.

Auckland Council is committed to supporting communities to recover and to chart a course for their futures, so they are more resilient and prepared than ever before.

We know that this will take time and effort, and that we need to start to build that future in communities where time, effort and resources are running thin.

While the storm events affected communities across Tāmaki Makaurau, the impacts are not felt the same everywhere, and they are likely to further entrench the experience of disadvantage for some communities.

As part of our community and social recovery mahi we have identified neighbourhoods that require more investment and resources to recover well and provided targeted support. For example we have established community convenor roles and distributed community grants for those community groups/organisations supporting impacted residents and communities in these areas.

To learn more about how we are supporting communities to recover, view or download the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Plan online.