Urban agriculture as an integral part of urban growth management strategies and the implications on urban form policy: the case of Auckland NZ

Urban agriculture potential is examined in three suburbs of increasing density in Auckland, NZ. A review of the relationship between urban indicators (net density and housing patterns) and potential solar energy available at ground level is done. Since soils are generally fertile and water readily available solar access to ground level becomes an indicator of productivity. Using the subtraction method and satellite photography from Auckland council GIS viewer, potentially productive land is estimated in three residential blocks-Mt Eden, Sandrigham and New Lynn. Based on the results the food energy potential of each site is determined. Preliminary results indicate that low density New Lynn has the highest potential for sustainability with surplus food energy. Medium density Sandrigham could meet 50 per cent of its vegetable dietary requirement while high density Mt Eden is unsustainable in UA. Recommendations are suggested as to how UA maybe integrated in urban growth strategies

Urban Growth, Liveability and Quality Urban Design: Questions about the efficacy of urban planning systems in Auckland, New Zealand

Preventing sprawl and concentrating future urban growth at transit centres, typifies many urban planning strategies in a number of Australian, New Zealand and North America cities. Newer iterations of these strategies also argue that compact development delivers public benefits by enhancing urban ‘liveability’ through good urban design outcomes. Where neoliberal economic conditions prevail, achieving these aims is largely dependent on market-driven development actions requiring the appropriate urban planning responses to ensure these outcomes. However, there are growing concerns that urban planning approaches currently used are not effectively delivering the quality urban design outcomes expected and enhancing residents’ liveability. This paper reports on an evaluation of three medium density housing developments located in areas designated for intensification in Auckland, New Zealand. Examined is the extent to which the development outcomes are aligned with the statutory urban planning requirements for quality urban design. The results indicated contradictions and points to limitations of the statutory planning system to positively influence quality outcomes, leading to enhanced residents’ experiences

Traffic in Towns, the Loss ofg Urban Resilence and the case of Auckland's civic centre

There are cogent arguments supporting the idea that resilient urbanism requires successful streets. Successful streets in city centres require a balance between efficient traffic movement and spaces for pedestrians on which urban vitality and economies depend. This balance was fractured in the 1940’s with the growth of car ownership, and traffic solutions prioritising vehicle movement. Responding to these issues in 1963, the Buchanan Report, Traffic in Towns advocated building motorways in towns, but in such a way that these circled what were called ‘environmental areas’. Auckland enthusiastically embraced motorway construction from 1955, and proposals to build a new civic centre at this time were seen as an opportunity to improved traffic flow in the inner city. This included the insertion of a new circular street, Mayoral Drive, cutting across the previous small scale grain of blocks and streets. The success of this street 50 years since its construction is assessed using urban design criteria. The conclusion drawn is that apart from two small areas, Mayoral Drive remains a largely unsuccessful street at the heart of Auckland, with a configuration that remains difficult to remediate from both a private and public investment point of view

Urban Growth, Liveability and Quality Urban Design: Questions About the Efficacy of Urban Planning Systems in Auckland, New Zealand

Preventing sprawl and concentrating future urban growth at transit centres, typifies many urban planning strategies in a number of Australian, New Zealand and North America cities. Newer iterations of these strategies also argue that compact development delivers public benefits by enhancing urban ‘liveability\u27 through good urban design outcomes. Where neoliberal economic conditions prevail, achieving these aims is largely dependent on market-driven development actions requiring the appropriate urban planning responses to ensure these outcomes. However, there are growing concerns that urban planning approaches currently used are not effectively delivering the quality urban design outcomes expected and enhancing residents\u27 liveability. This paper reports on an evaluation of three medium density housing developments located in areas designated for intensification in Auckland, New Zealand. Examined is the extent to which the development outcomes are aligned with the statutory urban planning requirements for quality urban design. The results indicated contradictions and points to limitations of the statutory planning system to positively influence quality outcomes, leading to enhanced residents\u27 experiences

Enhancing liveability through urban intensification: The idea and role of neighbourhood

This paper considers the contention that higher density neighbourhoods can lead to enhanced liveability, and examines the idea and role of neighbourhood to achieve this aim and policy goal. It reports on the findings from fifty-seven in-depth qualitative interviews. Residents interviewed all currently live in attached dwellings in four Auckland neighbourhoods. As is the case across much of Auckland, these areas are all experiencing considerable density increases. Conclusions drawn indicate that if higher density living is to be embraced in future neighbourhoods, the changing ways that residents are defining their neighbourhoods must be acknowledged and incorporated in to urban planning policy and strategy directives. The changing spatial role that neighbourhood amenities play in meeting the liveability expectations of residents must also be understood and provided for if enhanced liveability is to be achieved at higher densities

Future Intensive: Obstacles and opportunities to achieving compact urban form in Auckland

The State of Australian Cities (SOAC) national conferences have been held biennially since 2003 to support interdisciplinary policy-related urban research. This paper was presented at SOAC 6, held in Sydney from 26-29 November 2013. SOAC 6was the largest conference to date, with over 180 papers published in collected proceedings. All papers presented at the SOAC 2013 have been subject to a double blind refereeing process and have been reviewed by at least two referees. In particular, the review process assessed each paper in terms of its policy relevance and the contribution to the conceptual or empirical understanding of Australian cities