Crown land being offered
LAND earmarked to ease Auckland’s housing crisis is in a high noise and air pollution.
On May 29, Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith revealed a 3700square metre plot of land next to the Pak’nSave supermarket on New North Rd in Mt Albert is being considered as a site to help tackle Auckland’s housing problem.
However, the land brings a range of problems.
In Auckland Council’s Proposed Unitary Plan, the land is listed as being subject to high land transport noise and air quality transport corridor separation.
The site is one of four land parcels unveiled by the Government which collectively total 30 hectares. It contains a mix of 600 high-density terraced housing, apartments and standalone homes envisaged on the land.
Despite the issues Smith says his officials ‘‘are satisfied that it could be suitable for housing’’.
If the plan goes ahead the Government would partner with private sector property developers who would design, build and sell the houses.
Smith says the site had already been zoned for inten- sive housing and 60 terraced houses are planned.
He says the land is owned by the New Zealand Transport Agency and the Government is buying the land back for the project.
It was set aside to build the State Highway 20 Waterview Connection but isn’t needed as that part of the route is now being tunnelled.
A spokesperson for Smith says it is hard to judge contractor interest as the project is still at an early stage, however, initial response has been positive.
‘‘The minister last week gave a presentation to developers to inform them of this new initiative from the Government to facilitate housing development on Crown-owned land, where there was significant interest.’’
The 30ha are the first of a potential 500ha earmarked by the Government with development potential.
Yet to be announced are the remaining 470ha.
Checks on infrastructure and zoning are still to be completed.
The plans have not been without debate.
Ngati Whatua argues it has an agreement with the Government to first right for refusal for Crown land up for grabs in Auckland.
It is seeking legal advice, but Smith says the Government is ready to defend its decision in court.