Senior government minister Chris Bishop is keen to look at potential changes to Auckland’s viewshaft settings, which protect views of the city's many volcanic cones.
In a speech on Friday Bishop, Minister of Transport, Housing, Infrastructure and RMA Reform, said he has discussed the issue with Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, who "is open to a fresh look at Auckland’s viewshaft settings in its Unitary Plan."
Auckland's volcanic viewshafts and height sensitive areas aim to "appropriately protect" significant views of Auckland’s volcanic cones, contributing to the city's unique identity by protecting the natural and cultural heritage values of significant volcanic cones. The viewshafts are identified on planning maps.
"We agree that the time is right to start the conversation. This is particularly relevant where the viewshafts impact the CBD and major transit corridors," Bishop said.
"We are committed to trying to find a way though, alongside mana whenua, to get the balance right between economic growth, and the special role these Māunga play in the unique identity of Auckland."
"We are not proposing to remove these viewshafts. Rather, we are recognising that as the city changes, and there will be areas where the viewshafts should change with it," Bishop said.
Talking about Auckland's City Rail Link, which is scheduled to open next year, Bishop said a barrier to "proper high-density" housing in Auckland including around City Rail Link stations, is the settings of the 73 viewshafts restricting the height of the city.
"In 2016, the Independent Hearing Panel for the Auckland Unitary Plan recommended further work on the viewshafts, including refining them to improve their efficiency and reduce opportunity costs. In the almost-decade since, this work has not been progressed," said Bishop.
"Some of these viewshafts don’t make a lot of sense. The Unitary Plan protects the view from the tolling booths on the North Shore, so that those people sitting in their cars getting ready to pay their toll for the Harbour Bridge have a nice view of Mt Eden [the E10 viewshaft]. Of course there hasn’t been tolling booths on the North Shore since the mid-1980s."
"Forty years later, we are still protecting a view that would be considered dangerous-driving to admire."
"Aucklanders and local mana whenua have always had a special relationship with the Māunga and Volcanic cones that their city is nestled between. It is right that we acknowledge and protect this special relationship," Bishop said.
"But even just minor tweaks to existing viewshafts could materially lift development opportunities. A 2018 study showed that rotating the E10 viewshaft just 4.5 degrees to the left maintains the view of Mt Eden for a similar amount of time, whilst saving the city 43% of the lost development opportunity cost."
17 Comments
I always think it's nice that homeless and those living in overcrowded accomodation can enjoy their view of Auckland's volcanic hills.
Yes indeed. Always thought Maungawhau (Mt Eden) would make a good location for a favela community. The middle classers could not just look at the wonderful volcano, but also people making the most of what they have.
Is this the first time a politician has recognised density around train stations is a good idea? Glad they have finally caught up to what the rest of the world already knows. Talking about Auckland's City Rail Link, which is scheduled to open next year, Bishop said a barrier to "proper high-density" housing in Auckland including around City Rail Link stations, is the settings of the 73 viewshafts restricting the height of the city
I thought the old moyes ? cars was going up?
its all well planning for more houses, but the devlopers are fu*&^d as they cannot even sell the current crop, which are probably more appealing then high rise cheap apartments anyways. and soon expensive high rise apartments be more experense then full site...
Yes, I use exactly this planning example when teaching students to confront those who want a resource put to use A (a view), with the costs to the community of forgoing use B (housing intensification).
It will be a lot of work, but it is worth the effort. Chris Bishop seems to have the right kind of collaborative and measured approach to this investigation.
We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.
Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.