More Questions to be asked

I had sent some questions to Auckland Development Chair – Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse over the Manukau City Centre land sales. You can catch up on that here: Questions Around Land Sales

The questions I sent were:

1) What is the future of land sales that Auckland Council Property Limited might propose in the Metropolitan Centres (and possibly Town Centres)? Will there be a review of the sales process and decision-making? Will there be a freeze in land sales until such a review is taken and possibly until the new Auckland Development Council Controlled Organisation is formed.

2) In light of the presentation I gave specifically around the Manukau City Centre Lot 59 sale, will that sale process despite the motion in the previous Finance and Performance Committee authorising it be frozen pending a review outlined in question one?

Or will a Rescinding Motion be put in play to stop the sale entirely and have Council sit on the land until at least the new Auckland Development CCO is set up and can look at that very valuable 17,450m2 piece of Metropolitan Centre land in the Heart of South Auckland.

 I can tell you that feed back I got both privately and publicly around the Manukau Land Sale at the minimum was greeted with either despair or hostility. They are of the same thought as I am in hanging on to that land and Council leading the development through its own agencies which this new proposed CCO would do – that I knew nothing about until Friday morning after the presentation.

An example of public feed back that came through the blog:

are not following up on some of the critical issues you have raised lately?? – especially to do with Council’s performance in regard to South Auckland (Manukau), and the wasted opportunities to co-ordinate urban renewal on the scale and vision you are clearly showing is practical, exciting and progressive etc, etc….

I look forward to your reply

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After the Deputy Mayor even made some enquiries herself over the matter (there was possible confusion when I raised the issue last week at the Auckland Development Committee) but the answers from Auckland Council Property Limited have come back.

ACPL have answered (I did say this was all on record and it would show up in a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request any how)):

I have been asked to respond to an enquiry you made through the AT Stakeholder Management team for the Lot 59 project.

I understand that you wish to know how much of the site was to be sold off.

I have provided below a plan taken from the Agenda to the Finance and Performance Committee of 24 September 2014 and an extract from the original master plan indicating the proposed layout of the interchange and surrounding commercial/residential development. The yellow areas on the first plan indicate the land identified for commercial/residential development and extend to approximately 9,767sqm. In addition to this is the sale of the air rights above the bus interchange building fronting Putney Way where AT are funding the additional foundation costs to future proof development above. This is likely to be a 5 storey residential/hotel type use and the exact area will be subject to the outcome of the preliminary design work currently being undertaken.

It is AT’s intention to retain ownership of the bus interchange area coloured blue and Osterley Way will be vested as legal road.

The final areas of the subdivision will be determined on completion of the preliminary design of the bus interchange. ACPL, AC and AT are working together on this and the intention is to deliver an integrated Transit Orientated Development. ACPL will be going to the market early in the new year to seek proposals from developers to deliver the commercial/residential development aspects around the interchange. They will be required to work closely with the interchange design team and we expect there to be continuity in design and an opportunity to share solutions for the treatment of storm water and grey water, pedestrian access, etc. It is ACPL’s intention to sell the land and air rights associated with the commercial/residential development to the selected developer.

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This has led to a further follow up question – this time directed at the elected representatives themselves not ACPL:

So APCL is authorised to sell the land at Lot 59 in the sections highlighted in yellow after an authorisation via motion at the September Finance and Performance Committee. The question that I raised at the Auckland Development Committee is both why was this authorised via the Motion when the City is that tight on the budget it needs all the alternative revenue streams it can get. Something it would of by keeping the land and becoming a land lord to the new residential and commercial tenants on the land thus drawing rent as well as rates.

Shouldn’t Council be hanging onto the land until the new Auckland Development Agency CCO comes online and reviews the land and needs in a somewhat more holistic approach than what ACPL does?

In any case it seems to late to have that motion in the Finance and Performance Committee rescinded and Council to hang on to the land (that is ACPL does NOT sell it) but next time land comes up for sale in a Metropolitan Centre can the Significance/Engagement Policy with the wider community who would like to have their say on important land.

I need not remind the Council that not many people can understand the logic the Finance and Performance Committee took in allowing ACPL to sell off strategic Metropolitan Centre Land.

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The land in question can be seen below (in yellow)

We will see what comes of this as I try and get to the logic our elected representatives are showing when going through the decision making processes on such important issues like land in a Metropolitan Centre