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Auckland councillors have approved the approach for the future use of about 1,200 properties in the city bought out following the 2023 storms.
The policy guiding future land use decisions has been approved by the council’s Policy and Planning Committee.
The 1,200 properties with high-risk homes are expected to be purchased by the end of 2025, making this one of the largest land acquisition programmes undertaken in Auckland.
Mayor Wayne Brown says the policy is an important step.
“We have to think about the future and this policy allows the council to consider the different ways the land can be used, including, importantly, what we can do to recoup ratepayer money allocated to purchase the high-risk properties.
“I’m committed to getting value for money for what is a significant investment for council, so it makes sense we carefully consider how we utilise land safely, sensibly, and economically to reduce the cost of the storm damage and return some of that investment, to Auckland ratepayers.”
Committee chair, councillor Richard Hills, says it’s important to remember severely storm-affected land (Category 3) has inherent risks that must be considered for any future use.
“To move people out of harm’s way, that’s why these properties were assessed and purchased in the buy-out scheme.
“While we want to use the land effectively to provide homes and maintain strong communities, safety will always be our top priority.”
Under the policy, the council will retain a large number of properties for flood resilience projects, other council services or where hazards such as unstable land must be safely managed.
The council will also consider opportunities to sell some properties that can be used safely for other purposes.
Hills stressed that with hundreds of pieces of land to assess, it will take several years before final decisions are made, a factor which he knows will be frustrating for affected communities.
“We understand communities have a keen interest in the future of storm-affected land, but we have to carefully make the best decisions for the land and the community.”
The council’s director policy, planning and governance, Megan Tyler, says the policy is about finding safe and sensible options for the land, within the constraints of any hazard risks.
“This policy will guide how we assess the potential for each property, so that safety, future resilience and value for Aucklanders are top of mind.”
Aucklanders told the council through consultation in September, 2023, they wanted to see the impact on rates from the buy-out programme minimised, which along with other recovery costs tallies to more than $1 billion.
People who have suggestions for specific Category 3 sites can provide them in the expressions of interest register.
The removal of storm-affected homes will continue until late 2027, and the council will maintain the vacant land until the future land use is determined.
