Auckland to go 'high rise.'

Auckland is considering the possibility of going ‘high rise’ as it needs to fit another million people in the next 30 years. That figure is what the ‘planner’ think is feasible. Maybe they will be way under in their estimates as events overseas play out. Either way, Auckland has to find a way to fit these ‘extras’ in. I suspect that many of the new arrivals will come from overseas where such high rise living is the norm.

I believe that the new proposals are a good compromise between ‘spreading out and going up.’ We cannot afford to keep sucking up productive agricultural land’ as that is like selling the family silver so the proposal to build varying degrees of high and medium density apartments is the way to go.

However we must learn from the past and not build those ugly ‘pre-slum type examples that we can see in parts of the city. All new developments must have access to open spaces; ones that are safe and monitored. The last thing we want is gangs and hoodlums controlling these new complexes. It is going to take a mind shift in attitude amongst the new ‘dwellers’ to keep these places safe and stimulating.

I look forward to a bustling city that has good public transport and lots of opportunities for the inhabitants to enjoy their new city. If we don’t learn the lessons from the past and form overseas then we are doomed to have an ugly and unsafe city. We must not let that happen. As for me; well maybe I shall head for the far off suburbs.