Tag: Special Housing Area

Agendas for Committees of the Whole – April 2014

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Regional Strategy and Policy, and Auckland Development Committee Agendas Out

St James Theatre, and Special Housing Areas up for debate

 

The agendas for the Regional Strategy and Policy, and Auckland Development Committees are out.

 

Auckland Development Committee – April 2014

 

Of note is that the entire Committee will be behind closed doors as the sole item is on the long-awaited Third Tranche for the Special Housing Area. While the discussion is behind closed doors for the Committee a public announcement is due either next month or in June. From what I have gathered so far this third tranche is larger than the first two and a particular focus could be around Brownfield development (so existing urban areas). We await the public announcement when it comes out (ironically at the same time as Auckland Transport releases the Rail Strategy as well).

 

Regional Strategy and Policy Committee

I see two things of note in this Committee; the first being an update on Wynyard Quarter, and the second being (behind closed doors) on the St James Theatre.

No point of me commenting on Wynyard Quarter otherwise I am rehashing old ground covered in the A Perspective on the CBD and Waterfront post.

What did catch my attention though and no doubt will catch the attention of a few is St James Theatre is being debated again. Exactly what I do not know as it is in the Closed Agenda of the Committee but no doubt the media will start running its commentary on it from tomorrow if not Thursday.

 

 

Today at 2pm the Prime Minister and Minister of Transport will be at Britomart to officially launch “electrification” in Auckland. Our first EMU services on the Onehunga Line do not start however, until April 28th with the Manukau Line being in August, and the Southern and Western Lines after that. I have heard rumour some other announcement was planned to be tagged on today as well but we will have to wait and see. I highly doubt it will be a CRL package for 2017 – but hey we can keep pushing.

 

First Special Housing Accord Development Under Way

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Large Scale Social Housing Project under way in Weymouth

 

I noticed from respected property writer Bob Dey that Auckland Council and the Central Government signed off the first Special Housing Area under the operative Housing Accord. Remembering the Housing Accord could only become operational if the Unitary Plan was notified – which it was.

An excerpt from Bob’s post on the Weymouth Special Housing Area

Tamaki Collective’s Weymouth housing development launched

on Friday 4 October 2013 
Housing Minister Nick Smith and Auckland mayor Len Brown announced New Zealand’s largest community housing development yesterday – the Tamaki Collective’s $102 million development of 282 social & affordable homes on surplus Government land at Weymouth.

Dr Smith said it involved both the Government’s social & affordable housing reforms, helping 113 families into their first home and expanding the provision of community & social housing by 169 units.

“This Weymouth development, which will house 1250 people, will also be the first special housing area under new legislation & the Auckland accord. This will enable the 16ha subdivision of vacant Government land to be fast-tracked, with the first homes ready for occupation by the middle of next year and the entire development completed by 2017.”

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You can read the rest over at Bob’s site.

 

This is where the Special Housing Area development will be:

Weymouth SHA area

 

There is also a second but unrelated (I believe this one is overseen by Housing NZ) Social Housing project under way on Walters Road, Papakura North – next to Papakura Normal School as well.

 

We will have to wait and see if these Social Housing projects do assist with both housing affordability and allowing people into their own homes. What will be just as interesting is to see how these developments hold up in 10 years time.

 

Now where is the next Special Housing Area going to be located.