Coronavirus: New Covid-19 lockdown puts Auckland on a new path, but to where?

Saturday, 15 August 2020

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff on Auckland remaining in Covid-19 alert level 3 for 12 days.

OPINION: Covid-19 lockdowns seem to be becoming more like lawn mowing – hard work, made less enjoyable by the knowledge that once is not enough.

Aucklanders, the only ones in the country doing level 3 again, will be marking the 12 days off the calendar, or even just the seven until we hear what the chances are for a relaxation.

What the ending of two months of mostly normal everyday in Auckland has reminded us is, that Covid-19 is not a one-act play, after which life returns to normal.

The bit we still have to figure out is, what should we not be trying to “return to”, and what are the changes we need to be getting on with.

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A near-empty and modified Queen Street at the start of the second period of Covid-19 level 3

The debate over the future of the city’s premier shopping strip, Queen Street, is a symbolic example.

Downtown retailers and hospitality have been hit hard by Lockdown 1, the switch to working from home instead of city centre offices, and the sudden end of international tourism.

Some have protested the simultaneous project to reduce traffic lanes, and give more room to pedestrians and buses - a Covid-19 temporary response that has now morphed into the start of something lasting.

Suburban centres such as Onehunga will be upgraded more slowly due to Auckland Council budget constraints

The protest should really be though, about the lack of acceleration of finding a new meaning for Queen Street – a reason for being, other than high-end global brands, and the ability to drive the “golden mile”.

The Covid-19 downturn response should not be to put it back as it was, but to re-invent it as something unique, a lively human place that might attract Aucklanders in from the suburbs the way it once did.

Similarly, the quality of local suburban centres needs to be upgraded, if the Covid-19 catch cries of “stay local” and “support your local businesses” are to be anything other than hollow slogans.

Sadly the prospects don’t look good after the finalising of Auckland Council’s Emergency Budget, a competent but visionless response to a forecast $500 million revenue hit from Covid-19.

The mayor and Phil Goff and councillors did make tough decisions, notably the axing of a further 500-plus council staff – ironically a move that may only worsen the city centre’s economy.

However, they avoided others, dumping funding for suburban upgrades planned by its Panuku Development agency

More is to come as the five council-controlled agencies adjust to their own newly squeezed budgets.

A “co-design” process is about to roll out to figure out how to move Queen Street into the 21st century, partly with NZTA funding, but some pragmatic, human attractions would be easy to accelerate.

The council’s consideration of selling the car-parking businesses in its big public carpark buildings would also undermine any future policy levers to deter driving into the inner-city at times.

Auckland is fortunate to be under level 3 restrictions and not level 4, although the downside is we are unlikely to get a reminder of the joys of family cycling outings on once-empty roads.

The current 12 days in alert level 3, even if that is all it is, is going to be tough for many, and will not help those whose jobs might have already been in peril.

It is also a time though to be reminded of the lessons from the first time around. The value of time spent in surroundings closer to home, of community, and low impact living.

Whatever else Auckland’s renewed lockdown leaves us with, it should include a greater impetus to change our city with a sharper eye on the future, and not on the past.