Proposed bill aims to urgently address land supply problem and fund councils
The National Party is calling on the Labour Party to support its plan to deal with the housing crisis in New Zealand.
Last week, Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins proposed a bill to urgently address the country’s land supply problem and help councils fund supporting infrastructure.
National expects the draft legislation to introduce emergency powers similar to those used to increase house building in Canterbury following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. It also aims to incentivise councils by providing a $50,000 grant for each dwelling consented over and above a historical average.
National’s Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Bayly insisted that the Party’s plan is comprehensive, easily applicable, and crucial to address the housing crisis.
“This policy is simple for councils to understand, and it will be straightforward for councils to access investment for infrastructure. For every dwelling that a council sees built over and above their five-year average, they will receive $50,000. This applies equally to houses and dwellings within apartment buildings; we just want to see homes built. This will make infrastructure for new builds easier to finance in a proportionate manner with versatility to build up or out,” Bayly said.
“In stark comparison is the government’s plan proposed to achieve the same goal. It is needlessly confusing, with very little detail given. Who is going to manage this fund? What are the criteria to receive funding? How will councils apply for the funding? How long is the fund going to be active for?”
Bayly said National asked the Minister for Housing to clarify how their infrastructure plan will work. However, the Minister “made it clear that they don’t know what will be allocated in the next 12 months, which agency will overlook the fund, or what criteria are needed to be given grants.”
Bayly added: “How are we to expect councils to effectively engage with the government’s infrastructure plan when it doesn’t know how it will work?
“The National Party policy will be able to start immediately upon passage, incentivising houses right away.”
