The management of suburban amenity values: Auckland, Waitakere, Christchurch
Suburban intensification (increasing housing densities and population densities) can affect a city's infrastructure, transportation network, the natural environment, heritage places and areas, and amenity values.
The term 'amenity values' is defined in the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) as 'those natural or physical qualities and characteristics of an area that contribute to people's appreciation of its pleasantness, aesthetic coherence, and cultural and recreational attributes' (s 2 RMA). Contributing factors to suburban amenity values include public and private open space, historic and cultural heritage, neighbourhood character, vegetation, safety, views, and noise levels.
Significant effects of intensification on suburban amenity values include:
- changes to the streetscape and the combination of the natural and built environment
- the loss of vegetation, special character, and public and private open space
- increased traffic, noise levels, on-street car parking and the effects of increased traffic levels on safety.
Auckland, Christchurch and Waitakere City Councils were chosen as case study councils for the investigation and separate background reports were prepared on how each council is managing suburban amenity values in its city.