Legislation, planning and funding must be geared towards supporting and implementing infrastructure to encourage world-class, property development.
With the recent earthquakes in Kaikoura, we have refocused back on earthquake strengthening as major cities start to take a long-term view on how this is facilitated.
What we know from our experiences in the Canterbury earthquakes is that we need to continue to work with the Crown, providing guidance and consultation to ensure buildings are strengthened.
What are the issues affecting your industry and what impact are these likely to have over the next 12 months?
The National Policy Statement has major ramifications for councils and Local Government to meet the new expectations. Our role is to help council and local government tap into the knowledge we have about how to facilitate and grow medium density development.
How infrastructure both for housing and major transport is funded could limit growth if not addressed. Another limiting factor on growth and development is the construction sector, which is facing considerable cost increases and a lack of skilled labour.
Going into an election year, what are the three biggest issues the Government needs to solve?
The current legislative framework about planning, funding and growing our cities is not working. New Zealand's cities are rapidly evolving, dynamic places and we need Government to take a big picture view of how to support that, not hold it back.
There is a lack of cohesion between the Resource Management Act, Land Transport Management Act and the Local Government Act, all of which impacts on urban development. As a result we have a large number of piecemeal Government interventions.
Lessons from the past, the Auckland housing crisis and the current government Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act strongly indicate we must integrate legislation better.
The answer is likely to be a reframe of the situation and investigation into the fundamental question, do we need a proper city legislation to deal with the development of cities?
Either way, for our cities to grow and prosper we must start to take a holistic, integrated view towards future growth and development.
What role does the business community have in tackling these problems?
Commercial property is by its very nature a long-term game. Sector leaders, like the Property Council therefore must take a big picture view. We can provide practical experience and knowledge of the costs, barriers and challenges involved in getting development off the ground. We have a strong grip on district planning.
The process we underwent for the Christchurch City Council District Plan and the Auckland Unitary Plan leave us well placed to provide input on more fundamental change.
But most importantly we can push for an integrated holistic view - after all a truly dynamic liveable city is one that links and integrates residents, business, infrastructure, and amenity. We are happy to be constructive partners with Government to achieve that.
