Population policy sought

The Auckland Regional Council is calling on the Government to develop a long-term national population policy.

ARC chairman Mike Lee said the review of the regional growth strategy was under way but long-term planning for Auckland was difficult when immigration policies were for the short term and there was no population planning for the country as a whole.

The council had written to the Prime Minister asking that the Government work with it to explore ways to deal with growth pressures in Auckland, including the need to develop national policies on population growth and development.

Mr Lee said Auckland was growing disproportionately because one-third of the country's population was concentrated in one area.

This had put pressure on civic infrastructure and available land, caused chronic traffic congestion and urban sprawl and needed billions of dollars of taxpayer and ratepayer money to fix.