The ARC bows out tonight.
After 47 years serving the people of Auckland, the ARC has its final meeting.
Auckland’s first regional authority, the Auckland Regional Authority (ARA), was established in 1963 and can be credited with creating some of the region’s most significant infrastructure.
The ARA developed the region’s bulk water storage dams, completed the wastewater treatment plant at Mangere, and built the international airport terminal. It also started the regional parks network.
After local government reforms in the 1980s, the ARA became the ARC.
Our biggest thanks is to its public transport growth.
Transport plans have also been advanced through the ARC’s subsidiary, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA). Record investment in public transport has resulted in unprecedented passenger growth.
Auckland’s trains now carry the highest number of passengers since records began in 1955. Overall patronage has increased from 2.5 million passenger trips in 2003 to 9 million in 2010.
The ARC has expanded the regional parks network which now includes 27 parks and covers more than 40,000 hectares.
The ARC has also introduced leading conservation programmes to restore natural habitats and return kiwi, bellbirds and kokako to Auckland after being absent for decades.
The ARC has also invested in Auckland’s waterfront. The country’s most important port, Ports of Auckland Ltd, significant parts on Wynyard Quarter and Queens Wharf are now in public ownership.
Thankfully, ARC chair Mike Lee is a councillor and expected to be a rep on Auckland Transport.
Sadly other good ARC councillors didn’t make it in the local body elections such as the very smart ARC passenger transport chair Christine Rose who lost to Rodney Mayor Penny WEbster and North Shore’s public transport and cycling enthusiast Joel Cayford.
