Annual Plan 2011/2012

Auckland Council has adopted its first annual plan.

The 2011/2012 annual plan sets out the council's plans for the year 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012 and starts to put in place the building blocks of a more united Auckland.

At the same time, we are picking up the work of the previous councils and it is important that we respect the plans, priorities and identities of local communities right around our region.

We have managed to achieve that while building in some new initiatives to make Auckland a better place to live, work and play, including:

• securing additional funding for major regional events to stimulate the economy, attract visitors to our region and make Auckland a more exciting and interesting place
• starting work on the designation of the Auckland Inner City Rail Tunnel, which will unlock our public transport network, unclog our roads, increase services to the west, south and eventually to the North Shore, and deliver economic transformation
• setting aside funding for the preservation of key heritage sites so we can protect the character and history of our region.

In addition to these major regional initiatives, the Local Boards submitted their plans for a number of new local initiatives, many of these can be supported through new funding or re-prioritisation of existing resources.

We are seeing some great local initiatives spring up around the region, such as:

• the Otahuhu swimming pool
• the Birkenhead town centre upgrade
• the Glen Innes Music and Arts centre
• enhancing Bruce Pulman Park
• support for community pest and weed management groups in Waitakere
• and funding assistance for Great Barrier Island Health Services.

You can find out about more projects in your area and region wide in your August rates bill or view the full Annual Plan documents.