Waikato Mayoral ForumWaikato Mayoral Forum

Progress on a Waikato Spatial Plan

When we have a collective voice we succeed:• RTC’s advocacy for the Waikato Expressway• JOG funding for rail – double tracking the ECMT• Confidence to support record investment in 2012-15 NLTP

Local Govt is a small financial player, but important:• Resource allocation (water, soil, air, coastal space)• Settlement pattern• Core community infrastructure

A productive relationship with Central Government

Collective Voice is about leadership

The Need for a Collective Voice

Identified by Governance and Planning Groups Needed to engage with central government Focus on priority issues and opportunities More effective service delivery – reduce

duplication Improve efficiencies in planning practise:

Over 640 policies, strategies and plans Multiple RMA policies and rules saying different

things Key stakeholders engaging on multiple fronts

Aligns with LGC decisions

Single voice to advocate to central government Reduce duplication and inefficiency Simplifying planning processes Improve strategic capacity and decision making Operational capacity for core services would

improve Future proof against demographic change Eliminates uncertainty and need for current

councils to agree on service arrangements

A Waikato Plan Provides a shared vision on high priority

issues, capacity to address them and a collective voice to positively influence

It needs to: Guide more efficient planning and service delivery Provide a collective approach to investment

decisions Support conversations on governance frameworks

Not an ‘Auckland Plan’ - recognise the local, national and inter-national forces shaping our communities

Waikato Context• NZ’s 4th largest region and

economy • Strategic location in UNI

central to two major ports• Rural productivity and related

manufacturing drives exports• Strong knowledge base• Inter-regional exports:

• 40% of nations electricity• Food and water supplies• Minerals

• Forecasted doubling freight demand by 2031

• Strong relationship with Auckland and BOP Regions

• Increasingly influenced by Auckland growth

• Freight from rural productivity

• Centralising of freight logistics

Over $3B to Waikato economy in 2011/12

Inter-regional product movements

Peak month (October):

3M kilometres 45 % on local

roads 55% on State

Highways

Labour Markets

1991

Labour Markets

2006

Demographic Change is Coming

Long term affordability drivers

Don’t constrain thinking…

RMA LTMA LGA

NATIONALNational Policy Statements and Standards

Integrated approach

RPS

Regional Plans

District PlansStructure PlansResource Consents

GPS on Transport

NLTP

RLTP Regional PT Plan

District Transport Strategies and Plans

Waikato Expressway Network Plan

Sub-Regional Growth Strategies

Long Term Plans

Asset Management Plans

Contributions policies

The Outcome

A Waikato Spatial Plan that:

Contributes to the Waikato’s social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being through a comprehensive and effective long-term (30-year) strategy for Waikato’s growth and development.(Sec 79 LGAC Act)

Project Stage 1

Common evidence base across well-beings Issues, strengths and opportunities What do we want to have a collective voice on..? Where is our opportunity to provide leadership

Next Steps By February

Scope of Spatial Plan agreed Project plan, budget and structure confirmed Anchored in triennial agreement / spatial plan

agreement

2014 Waikato Spatial Plan development Project establishment Sector engagement Plan development Links to LTP’s, Infrastructure strategies, Govt.

agencies

Potential implications

Benefits of a spatial plan through implementation

Some thoughts… Decluttering the regulatory environment Greater partnerships with Central Govt Joined up engagement / partnership with

community Aligning of resource allocation to settlement

pattern Joint asset management / service delivery Enabling legislation change