Dear Whangarei District Council,

I am requesting information under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 about the costs of new housing developments in Whangarei and how they compare to existing suburbs. Specifically, I would like information on the following.

1. How much does the council spend on roads, water, sewage, stormwater, and rubbish collection for new housing developments? How much revenue do these areas generate in rates? How do these costs and revenues compare to older suburbs like Onerahi, Kamo, and Tikipunga? Is there data showing the cost and revenue per household, person, or land area?

2. What new housing developments have been built in the last five years (2019–2024), and what is planned for the next five years (2025–2030)? Has the council analysed whether low-density urban sprawl is more expensive to maintain than higher-density development? Do existing financial models show that older suburbs are subsidising the costs of new developments?

3. How do new housing developments affect public transport routes and costs? What is the impact on waste management services, such as rubbish and recycling collection? How do these costs compare to older suburbs?

4. Auckland Council found that rates from older suburbs and lower-income areas were effectively subsidising the costs of new, low-density housing developments on the outskirts. Has Whangarei District Council conducted a similar study? If so, what were the findings?

Yours faithfully,

Todd Smith