CBRRA strives to be politically neutral, especially when it comes to national politics. However, there

are times when national legislation impacts local priorities. One such example is housing intensification.

The Cockle Bay area wastewater system is at near capacity. Under the initial Plan Change 120

proposal much of Cockle Bay was zoned for intensification – despite not having sufficient sewerage

capacity. Fortunately the latest proposals have reinstated the existing zoning, but this is not a firm

situation until proposals are finally adopted. With this in mind we asked the National Party (both Chris

Bishop and Simeon Brown) a number of questions relating to National Party policies on funding

infrastructure costs necessary to enable housing intensification. We stressed that we are talking about

the costs for the developed areas of Auckland as a whole, rather than greenfields developments

approved under the fast track legislation. We quoted Auckland Council’s estimate that total

infrastructure costs to support the revised (and reduced) housing capacity required by legislation will

amount to some $1.5 billion (as quoted in NZ Herald).

In the interests of fairness we made the same request to the other political parties. Because the National

Party sponsored the legislation we followed up with them a number of times but we have not received

a reply. NZ First sent an automated response referring us to their website. Other parties did not reply.

We are disappointed not to have had our questions answered.

Infrastructure costs associated with housing intensification is not something that is required to be

considered by the Independent Hearing Panel, based on the Statement of Expectations produced by

the Minister of Housing the Hon. Chris Bishop. You can draw your own conclusions.