Auckland councillors have this week considered an approach for the future use of properties that have been bought out following major 2023 storms. A policy guiding future land use decisions was endorsed by the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday (13 February), ahead of the final approval step with the council's Policy and Planning Committee expected in April.
With support from the government, the council has been assessing affected homes, and where there is a serious future risk, helping people move out of harm’s way with a voluntary buy-out option. More than 1200 properties with high-risk homes are expected to be purchased by the end of the year – making it one of the largest land acquisition programmes undertaken in Auckland.
“We want to ensure this land is repurposed to the best use possible, with safety being our number one priority,” says Megan Tyler, Director Policy, Planning and Governance.
“These properties are all different - from homes in rural and coastal areas to multi-units in inner suburbs, all with unique circumstances and risk factors. 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,” says Tyler.
Under the proposed policy, Auckland Council will retain some properties for flood resilience projects, other council services, and if the land is not safe for other uses. Where possible, it will also consider opportunities to sell some properties that can be used safely for other purposes.
Forecasts for the number of high-risk buy-out eligible homes have increased from 900 to 1200, with the final number expected in the next few months. Mace Ward, Group Recovery Manager, says the scale of recovery has been massive, and while the focus is on reducing future risk, the council is having to do much more, sooner than anticipated.
“This has been an extremely costly exercise for Aucklanders – and we must minimise the impact on rates. As well as the property purchase and removal of buildings, it also costs us to hold onto and maintain this land”, says Ward.
“So where we don’t need the land for resilience projects or other council use, we need to explore the best value options. While the existing homes have a future risk as they were, redevelopment could happen in a fundamentally different and safer way. However, the bar will be high.
“While building more homes is an important outcome for communities, we are also mindful of how sensitive any future plans will be for neighbours and the previous owners, many of whom still feel strong connections to their former homes.
“And we don’t know yet what the total land holdings will be from the buy-out process, so deciding the future use for every parcel of land will take several years.”
The policy will soon be presented to the council’s Policy and Planning Committee for final consideration.
Read the storm-affected land frequently asked questions on OurAuckland.
Mace Ward, Group Recovery Manager
